Special Report

Schools and Reform In the Information Age

November 10, 1997
  • Education A Matter of Policy
    School technology has become the educational initiative du jour for lawmakers across the nation and of every political stripe.
    Kerry A. White, November 10, 1997
    11 min read
    Education Partnering With the Public
    Much has been made of technology’s ability to open schools up to the world via the Internet and satellites. But technology is playing an equally powerful role in opening schools up to their local communities.
    Mary Ann Zehr, November 10, 1997
    14 min read
    Education A Test of Leadership
    As technology flows ever faster into the nation’s schools, many administrators say they’re feeling swamped by the challenges of putting it into place.
    Andrew Trotter, November 10, 1997
    16 min read
    Education An Underused Resource
    Library media specialists can be a big help to teachers who want to learn more about technology, three experts who have experience in the position say.
    Mary Ann Zehr, November 10, 1997
    2 min read
    Education Teaching the Teachers
    There is little nationwide data on what percentage of teachers have received technology training, and even less on what form that training has taken. But a 1994 survey by the U.S. Department of Education shows that only 15 percent of the nation’s teachers had had at least nine hours of instruction in educational technology.
    Mary Ann Zehr, November 10, 1997
    19 min read
    Education Putting It All Together
    Classrooms that use technology wisely and integrate it into the curricula are hard to come by.
    Debra Viadero, November 10, 1997
    3 min read
    Education Special Assistance
    Technology has literally helped open schoolhouse doors for disabled students and given impetus to the “full inclusion” movement, which calls for teaching disabled students in regular classrooms whenever possible.
    Debra Viadero, November 10, 1997
    2 min read
    Education A Tool for Learning
    Were it not for the age of the students, this 8th grade language arts classroom could easily be mistaken for a modern office in some sleek, glass-and-steel building downtown.
    Debra Viadero, November 10, 1997
    20 min read
    Education What Data Should Be Collected?
    What gets measured, gets money, some policy analysts say. The flip side—what gets money, gets measured—may be equally true. Perhaps for both reasons, state policymakers are showing greater interest in getting accurate, up-to-date data on technology in public schools.
    Andrew Trotter, November 10, 1997
    4 min read
    Education Taking Technology's Measure
    In poll after poll, parents say technology is essential to a child’s education. Many educators believe it’s the missing linchpin of school reform. Business leaders consider it a mandatory part of a student’s preparation for the workplace. And policymakers at every level of government are spending more money on it each year.
    Andrew Trotter, November 10, 1997
    16 min read