This paper examines the potential of using Web-based technologies in cross- curricular education and iden1fies the need for a locally based site for teaching and learning. In addition, ii also gives an analysis of a local research project called "Project Crucial", which is developed by the present authors, and discusses the use of Information Technology (IT) to turn schools from "content factories" to higher academic learning and communication centers.

This paper begins by describing the impact of computer technology on the student's thinking and learning. It gives a brief survey of the development of information technology in education in different parts of the world, including the fiveyear strategy (1998-2003) for the use of IT for learning in Hong Kong. The paper focuses on evaluating the utilization of IT in arts education in Hong Kong. Through a questionnaire survey of primary and secondary school teachers, it investigates several aspects of using information technology in art and music teaching for the five years after its implementation: the teaching and learning of art and music; lesson preparation and student assessment; student self-learning, teachers' perspectives and their professional needs when utilizing IT in teaching the arts. The findings reveal that teachers have a very positive view of IT, believing that it motivates student interest and facilitates arts teaching and learning. However, provision and funding for it are not satisfactory, and this creates problems and hinders progress. A concerted effort is needed from the various parties involved, in order that IT can be properly utilized to achieve fully its potential impact on student learning.

This paper is an evaluative report of forty Grade Seven students using a CALL courseware on enhancing learning English, in comparison with a control group of the same size with traditional pedagogy (non-IT) within two weeks. Unlike previous CALL research done on their students' learning attitude or oral ability in Hong Kong, the research focused on testifying the benefits of CALL to junior secondary students' learning English usage through a linguistic post-test, and depicting their perceptions of its user-interface design and instructional activities through a semi-structured survey. Research findings confirmed that in each academic ability group, mean post-test scores were higher when using CALL than not, and that median-ability students had the best post-test performance, compared with other ability groups. Survey responses helped improve the user-interface design with an attention to academic ability factor for future instructional activities.

This paper reports the process and experience of using digital portfolios in student learning in a large scale implementation in two professional English communication courses. An overview of the technical design and support in implementation is given, then the teaching/learning experience is described and the responses from students and teachers are summarized. The paper closes with reflections on the progress of the project.