Office of Internet Studies

The Office of Internet Studies (OIS) has four main areas of focus in the field of K-12 educational technology: research, program evaluation, curriculum development, and service projects.

Co-directors Neal Grandgenett and Neal Topp, along with Paul Clark, Bill Schnase and Jim Wolfe lead part-time staff, student workers and inservice teacher/consultants - to accomplish a wide variety of funded projects.

The following externally funded projects are representative of OIS contributions to the College of Education, the Omaha metropolitan educational community, the state of Nebraska, and the wider field of educational technology. The projects have been funded by a variety of sources, including NASA, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and various state and private organizations.

Research

• OIS investigates online learning within science and mathematics education
• OIS develops online surveys to study the impact of K-12 Internet use
• OIS examines the use of handheld technologies in the K12 and college classroom
• OIS develops instruments to monitor technology use in K12 classrooms
• OIS investigates new online learning and assessment strategies
• OIS investigates the changing educational technology backgrounds of students
• OIS develops online portfolio systems and their educational applications
  OIS staff have published nearly 100 reports, proceedings, and journal articles

Program Evaluation

• OIS has conducted more than 30 funded external evaluations
• OIS staff consistently present on evaluation at national conferences
• OIS staff have consistently contributed to national evaluation reports
• OIS staff are working to develop new strategies and techniques for evaluation

Funded Curriculum Development Projects

• OIS helps manage the Maverick Shuttle Simulation Lab
• OIS is one of 20 institutions authorized to conduct online courses for NASA
• OIS coordinates NASA's award winning DataSlate software
• OIS is helping develop curriculum for several NSF educational robotics grants
• OIS has helped develop various technology-based lessons for math and science

Service through Collaborative Partnerships

• OIS regularly presents at state, regional, and national conferences on technology
• OIS regularly participates in technology and curriculum audits in the local schools
• OIS regularly participates in national educational technology initiatives