The WWW is now in widespread use for delivering on-line learning content in many large-scale education settings. Given such widespread usage, it is feasible to accumulate data concerning the most useful learning experiences of past students and share them with future students. Browsing events that depict how past students utilized the learning…

Provides historical background information about multimedia CD-ROM encyclopedias and evaluates 11 recent releases. Discusses access to information, costs, content, technological developments. Rates the text, multimedia, and user interface. A sidebar provides a 10-year chronology of CD-ROM encyclopedias. (AEF)

Describes and compares several exchange/transfer formats used to upload records into software host programs, including unstructured or plain ASCII; fixed field; delimited ASCII; tagged; MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging); and graphic. It is concluded that CD-ROM producers should strengthen the built-in output management of programs and offer…

The fourth in a series of articles on the evaluation of microcomputer software for information storage and retrieval, conducted by the Netherlands Association of Users of Online Information Systems (VOGIN), presents test results for six indexing and full-text retrieval programs--Ask-It, KAware, Texplore, TextMaster, WordCruncher, and ZYindex. (13…

Contains profiles of integrated online library systems (IOLS) software for special libraries, along with a chart that compares key features and functionalities for both circulation control and online catalogs. The software packages of 18 separate vendors are represented. Profiles were assembled from previously published information, including…

The importance and attention given to information systems are relatively new phenomena in the history of higher education. This chapter documents the ascendancy of information systems in the scheme of institutional priorities and considers the strengths and weaknesses associated with vended and homegrown systems.

Two years ago the University of Tampa acquired the "BASIC SKILLS" software program developed by Computer Systems Research to help underprepared students bring their reading, writing, and mathematical skills up to college levels. Two studies were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the software and to establish the most effective…

A study compared the benefits of phonological awareness instruction along with and without a phonics computer software program to improve phonological and reading skills in elementary students with mild mental disabilities. During the eight weeks of the study in the fall of 1999, elementary resource students were taught phonological awareness…

World Wide Web browsers are compared by speed, setup, hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) handling, management of file transfer protocol (FTP), telnet, gopher, and wide area information server (WAIS); bookmark options; and communication functions. Netscape has the most features, the fastest retrieval, sophisticated bookmark capabilities. (JMV)

Describes the evaluation of four hypertext microcomputer-based software packages for use in a browsing system on a medical or health topic for the South African Medical Research Council exhibit in the South African Museum. Evaluation criteria are explained, and 40 examples of screen displays are included. (four references) (LRW)

Discusses the evaluation of instructional software, describes two versions of a software evaluation model, and reports the results of two studies that compared evaluative decisions based upon subjective software ratings and data collected using both versions of the evaluation model. Teacher use of student data for decision making is also examined.…

Discussion of the use of human markers to mark responses on write-in questions focuses on a study that determined the feasibility of using a computer program to mark write-in responses for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination. The computer performance was compared with that of physician markers. (seven references) (LRW)

Character strings were planted in a World Wide Web site (Project Whistlestop) to test indexing and retrieval rates of five Web search tools (Lycos, infoseek, AltaVista, Yahoo, Excite). It was found that search tools indexed few of the planted character strings, none indexed the META descriptor tag, and only Excite indexed into the 3rd-4th site…

WebQuests are activities in which students use Web resources to learn about school topics. WebQuests are advocated as constructivist activities and ones generally well regarded by students. Two experiments were conducted in school settings to compare learning using WebQuests versus conventional instruction. Students and teachers both enjoyed…

This paper provides a brief comparative summary of the results of U.S. and European studies on the use of CD-ROM and other optical products in all types of libraries and information centers. In 1987 and 1988, questionnaires were distributed to academic, public, and special libraries in the United States and to libraries in 18 European countries:…