The aim of this book is to present readers with state-of-the-art options which allow pupils as well as teachers to cope with the social impacts and implications of information technology and the rapid technological developments of the past 25 years. The book explores the following key areas: the adaption of curricula to the social needs of society; the influences of multimedia on social interaction; morals, values and ethics in the information technology curriculum; social and pedagogical variables which promote information technology use; and social implications of distance learning through the medium of information technology. This volume contains the selected proceedings of the TC3/TC9 International Working Conference of the Impact of Information technology, sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing and held in Israel, March, 1996.

The book presents models that are suitable for managing a teaching system. These models grew and were modified based on dozens of field studies that were carried out within the framework of the "Distance Learning Laboratory" at Bar-Ilan University. Researches carried out by the research team attempted to identify and define variables that are significant and essential for activation of learning systems. Within this framework they tried to define various goals of learning and methods for activating learning systems. The relation between the method and the learning goal enabled them to try to define the teacher's role and contribution, and the role of the technological system. Each goal requires a different method and the teacher's role and the role of the technological system are different for each goal. Complete harmony and co-ordination exists between the goal of learning, the teaching method, the teacher's role and the role of the technological systems. Educated and accurate integration of these factors will lead to the achievement of the learning goals. The effectiveness of learning is determined by the extent to which it succeeded in achieving the learning goals.