Large-Scale Educational Telecommunications Systems for the U.S.: An Analysis of Educational Needs and Technological Opportunities.

Overview & Synopsis

Opportunities for utilizing large-scale educational telecommunications delivery systems to aid in meeting needs of U.S. education are extensively analyzed in a NASA-funded report. Status, trends, and issues in various educational subsectors are assessed, along with current use of telecommunications and technology and factors working for and against expanded utilization. Opportunities for future use of large-scale telecommunications systems for each subsector are forecast and identified. Subsectors assessed are elementary and secondary education, higher education, vocational technical and career, adult education, continuing professional education, early childhood, education for the handicapped, aged, and institutionalized. Public broadcasting, instructional television, computer-assisted instruction, computer-resource sharing, and information resource sharing are explored for possible use. Policy implications of large-scale use of technology are identified and considered. A bibliography of pertinent documents is appended. (SK)