Presents a group of semiotic principles for software design and uses them to show how they explain different educational possibilities. Discusses interface design and describes Theater in the Computer, a software environment for children, to illustrate semiotic-based principle of interface design. (Author/LRW)

Describes a usability study conducted with health sciences students at the University of Washington that explored interface issues in the GramStain Tutor, an educational software program on CD-ROM, particularly the navigation of the program and the use of embedded design features. (LRW)

An interactive version of an educational radio program can be developed quickly and easily with a main menu interface that takes into account physical classroom conditions; interactive learning interfaces that accommodate eye and vision requirements of children; and a story interface design informed by the "container" metaphor and the 2-D…