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At a time when implementation of electronic portfolios (EPs) is expanding, the issues of clarifying their purposes continue to plague teacher education programs. Are student-centered uses of EPs compatible with program assessment and accreditation efforts? Is this an either/or situation, or can a productive middle ground be forged? This article reviews the compatibility of key purposes for EPs in light of the changing landscape of their use in teacher education. It explores theoretical perspectives, analyzes policy implications and challenges, and provides recommendations that support current adoption and implementation decisions. It concludes that it is possible to effectively use EPs for varied purposes and provides specific recommendations for doing so.

[...] unlike many early adopters in educational technology, my initial interest in computers was not inspired by an infatuation with the technology itself, but rather by its potential impact on education. The authors cite several advantages to online assessments based on the affordances of virtual environments to (a) ensure standardization due to consistent instruction and assessment procedures, (b) eliminate expensive kits for hands-on tasks, (c) improve the ease of administering and scoring assessments, (d) alleviate safety issues and inequity due to lack of resources, and (e) create learning experiences and assessments that wouldn't otherwise be feasible within school settings.

This descriptive study investigates the diffusion of electronic portfolios in preservice teacher education by documenting the context and emergent practices in six programs identified as mature in their implementation. Context variables examined include prior use of paper portfolios, pressures for standards-based assessment, and leadership and governance issues. Variations in program implementation are also explored including the portfolio tools employed, artifact selection, evaluation of student work, and the role of reflection. Findings of the study suggest that amidst the common themes across programs, there are numerous variations in approaches to e-portfolio use. The authors conclude that further research is needed to examine the future directions for e-portfolios envisioned as well as specific advice for those in earlier stages of adoption or implementation.

At a time when implementation of electronic portfolios (EPs) is expanding, the issues of clarifying their purposes continue to plague teacher education programs. Are student-centered uses of EPs compatible with program assessment and accreditation efforts? Is this an either/or situation, or can a productive middle ground be forged? This article reviews the compatibility of key purposes for EPs in light of the changing landscape of their use in teacher education. It explores theoretical perspectives, analyzes policy implications and challenges, and provides recommendations that support current adoption and implementation decisions. It concludes that it is possible to effectively use EPs for varied purposes and provides specific recommendations for doing so. (Contains 2 tables.)

Many schools are initiating projects that place laptop computers into the hands of each student and teacher in the school. These projects entail a great deal of planning and investment by all involved. The teachers in these schools are faced with significant challenges as they prepare for teaching in classrooms where every student has a computer. Using the Concerns-Based Adoption Model of change, this study investigated the concerns of teachers in the early stages of a one-to-one laptop initiative. The results of the study indicate that teachers fall into two relatively well-defined categories in terms of their concerns regarding the innovation. The majority of teachers have genuine concerns about how the introduction of laptop computers into the school environment will impact them personally. A lesser number have concerns about how they will be able to best use the laptops to meet the needs of the students. Implications for professional development include differentiating training based on teacher concerns, ensuring teachers have a voice in the process and are well-informed of decisions pertaining to the adoption, and implementation of the innovation.

This is the second part of a two-part article on the diffusion of electronic portfolios in preservice teacher education. The first part addressed issues of adoption and implementation; this part documents \"next steps\" and key recommendations by informants from the six programs studied. Next steps included streamlining requirements, addressing reliability of technology and access, and planning for data aggregation and program evaluation. Key recommendations were to involve a broad base of participants in the planning process, clarify the purposes for electronic portfolios, move forward incrementally, and provide sufficient technology access, training, and support. The study concludes that a range of research is needed to inform future decisions pertaining to the large-scale implementation of electronic portfolios in teacher education.

This study focused on efforts in four colleges of education deemed exemplary in their approaches to prepare preservice teachers to use technology. The study addressed one overarching question: What are the important pieces of the puzzle that make up the current technology integration efforts at these exemplary sites? Data were gathered during the 1997—98 academic year. Findings suggest that there is a web of enabling factors that supports student learning opportunities and desired technology-related outcomes for preservice teachers. The informed leadership of deans and other administrative and faculty leaders appears to be especially critical to sustain and expand technology-integration efforts. Leadership issues, along with a wide range of other factors, are systematically examined across the four case studies. The authors conclude that while each of the four cases is unique, many of the recommended practices explored in this study would likely prove beneficial f employed in other settings.

Strudler comments on Roblyer's and Knezek's article about the situation of current educational technology research, which includes lack of sufficient theory, failure to provide adequate evidence about how modern technology enhance achievement and motivation, and failure to adequately shape practice in the field. With these assessment, Strudler affirms that educational technology researchers must focused more in identifying technology-based methods that have the potential for unique and fairly consistent benefits, which can solve educational problems and lead to educational improvements.

This volume focuses on multicultural curriculum transformation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM subject areas broadly, while also focusing on sub-content areas (e.g., earth science, digital technologies) in greater detail. The discussion of each sub-content area outlines critical considerations for multicultural curriculum transformation for the sub-content areas by grade level (early childhood and elementary school education, middle and/or junior high school education, and high school education) and then by organizing tool parameters: standards (both in a generalized fashion, and specific to Common Core State Standards, among other standards), educational context, relationships with and among students and their families, civic engagement, considerations pertaining to educational \"ability\" broadly considered (for example, for gifted and talented education, bilingual gifted and talented education, \"regular\" education, bilingual \"regular\" education, special education, bilingual special education), as well as relative to specific content and corresponding pedagogical considerations, including evaluation of student learning and teaching effectiveness. In this way, the volume provides a conceptual framework andconcrete examples for how to go about multiculturally-transforming curriculum in STEM curricula. The volume is designed to speak with PK-12 teachers as colleagues in the multicultural curriculum transformation work at focus in each subject area and at varied grade levels. Readers are exposed to \"things to think about,\" but also given curricular examples to work with or from in going about the actual, concrete work of curriculum change. It bridges the gaps between preparing PK-12 teachers to be able to 1) independently multiculturally adapt existing curriculum, and, 2) create new multicultural curriculum differentiated for their content areas and grade levels, while also, 3) providing ample examples of what such adapted and new differentiated curricula looks like. In so doing, this volume also bridges the gaps between the theory and practice of multicultural curriculum transformation in higher and PK-12 educational contexts.

This volume focuses on multicultural curriculum transformation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM subject areas broadly, while also focusing on sub-content areas (e.g., earth science, digital technologies) in greater detail. The discussion of each sub-content area outlines critical considerations for multicultural curriculum transformation for the sub-content areas by grade level (early childhood and elementary school education, middle and/or junior high school education, and high school education) and then by organizing tool parameters: standards (both in a generalized fashion, and specific to Common Core State Standards, among other standards), educational context, relationships with and among students and their families, civic engagement, considerations pertaining to educational “ability” broadly considered (for example, for gifted and talented education, bilingual gifted and talented education, “regular” education, bilingual “regular” education, special education, bilingual special education), as well as relative to specific content and corresponding pedagogical considerations, including evaluation of student learning and teaching effectiveness. In this way, the volume provides a conceptual framework andconcrete examples for how to go about multiculturally-transforming curriculum in STEM curricula. The volume is designed to speak with PK-12 teachers as colleagues in the multicultural curriculum transformation work at focus in each subject area and at varied grade levels. Readers are exposed to “things to think about,” but also given curricular examples to work with or from in going about the actual, concrete work of curriculum change. It bridges the gaps between preparing PK-12 teachers to be able to 1) independently multiculturally adapt existing curriculum, and, 2) create new multicultural curriculum differentiated for their content areas and grade levels, while also, 3) providing ample examples of what such adapted and new differentiated curricula looks like. In so doing, this volume also bridges the gaps between the theory and practice of multicultural curriculum transformation in higher and PK-12 educational contexts.