The "digital economy" figured prominently in President Clinton's State of the Union address. Clinton urged technology companies to help close the digital divide separating those who have access to the Internet and those who do not. Clinton also urged lawmakers to allocate more funding to the E-rate program that wires schools and libraries with Internet access, saying that although roughly 90 percent of schools now have Internet access, many facilities need to be upgraded in that regard. (CNet, 27 Jan 2000)

A 1999 study by the Milken Exchange on Educational Technology found most student teachers responding to the survey were not taught how to use the technology. And a recent survey by the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that only 20 percent of teachers are confident in their abilities to handle new applications and integrate the technology into their classrooms. (New York Times - Education Life, 9 Jan 2000 - Edupage 12 Jan 00)

Realizing that all of the educational technology is worth nothing if teachers don't know how to use it, Intel and Microsoft are forming a program that will provide technology training to teachers around the world. Intel will provide $444 million in funding, equipment, curriculum development, program management, software and support to train over 400,000 teachers in 20 nations. (Wall Street Journal, 21 Jan 2000)

The merger of AOL and Time Warner clearly states that CONTENT is KING! The desire to have Content and Connectivity is a parallel desire in the e-learning field. Watch for a number of our current learning and technology groups to be courted in future deals! (TechLearn Trends #156 20 Jan 00)

New Internet-based technologies that promise to replace paper are expected to become more sophisticated and widely used in coming years, possibly posing a large threat to the paper market within 10 years. Already, digital media are challenging newspapers, and e-mail is replacing paper for communications in large companies. Use of paper is expected to drop from 90 to 30 percent by 2005, according to Xplor International, a representative of the document management industry. (Financial Times, 19 Jan 2000)

Today, in more and more schools, technology is becoming an alternative to the "real thing." Virtual dissection, a valuable classroom lesson, for example, is now available on CD-ROM, giving the environmental conscious, animal rights activists and vegetarians an alternative choice for participation in this classroom practice. In '95 Digital Frog International sold 39 CD's. Last year it sold 892. (WI State Journal 11 Jan 00)

Business schools over the past year have been forming deals with Internet firms to deliver online programs. UNext.com, University Access and Pensar are three such firms. Some business schools are concerned that these inexpensive online programs developed by top schools will damage less prestigious business schools. (Financial Times, 10 Jan 2000)