Investigates the discourse practices of the "affiliated professions" of software engineering design. Compares lists of design issues generated by students in computer science and computer communication to lists produced by experts associated with software engineering and by students entering an unaffiliated profession. Suggests that affiliated…

Discussion of school hardware and software selection focuses on a study that identified the most useful pieces of hardware and accompanying software applications as rated by teachers whose sixth- through eighth-grade classes spent a semester working in a special technology-rich environment at Kent State University. Compares ratings by teachers and…

Discusses online library catalogs that are accessible via the Internet and describes their use to create bibliographies using EndNote software. Three catalogs are described that need no further editing; two are described that need some editing; examples of records are given; and the systems are compared. (LRW)

Describes the development of computer-based searching methods to support literature-based discoveries in medical literature through a replication of the discovery of a connection between Raynaud's disease and dietary fish oil. Topics include the logic of literature-based discovery, information retrieval methods for text analysis, and statistics…

Compares the effectiveness of five grammar/style analysis software packages in analyzing business students' writing. States that the software exhibited differences in correctly identifying mechanical and style errors, avoiding misleading error messages, and providing remedial advice. Warns that no similar empirical tests have been done previously.…

Reviews changes in the ERIC database on compact disk that have been made in systems offered by the following vendors: Dialog, SilverPlatter, and OCLC. Highlights include system requirements, costs, search strategies, printing, help screens, tutorials, double posting, available formats, display of search results, and searchable fields. (LRW)

Explains abductive reasoning; compares it to more traditional forms of logic, i.e., deduction and induction; and describes a computerized tutorial called A.R.T. (Abductive Reasoning Tool) that was created to foster abductive reasoning. Implications of using abductive techniques in instructional design are suggested. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

The implementation and evaluation of a computer-based kanji finder developed on a Macintosh using HyperCard is reported. In a comparison study, the electronic kanji finder resulted in more effective retrieval than traditional retrieval using reference books. (18 references) (Author/LB)

Describes an evaluation of educational software that compared software produced in Taiwan with software produced in the United States. Results showed a surprisingly small number of cultural differences other than language; article suggests that multimedia guidelines for international audiences would be helpful. (LRW)

Compares students of average ability in three high school geometry classes that utilized computer software in varying amounts. Reports that using computer software may not be beneficial when teaching certain topics in geometry and that using computer software did improve student interest and participation. Contains 13 references. (Author/ASK)

Examines library automation product introductions and conversions to new operating systems. Compares user satisfaction ratings of the following library software packages: DOS/Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, and DEC VAX/VMS. Software is rated according to documentation, service/support, training, product reliability, product capabilities, ease of use,…

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Education and the Ministry of Education in China entered into a bilateral partnership to develop a technology-driven approach to foreign language learning that integrated gaming, immersion, voice recognition, problem-based learning tasks, and other features that made it a significant research and development pilot…

This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CAI vs. classroom lecture for computer science at ICS level. The objectives were to compare the learning effects of two groups with classroom lecture and computer-assisted instruction studying the same curriculum and the effects of CAI and CRL in terms of cognitive development. Hypotheses of…

In an effort to identify instructional methods that might improve mathematics learning at the grade 4 level when used in a variety of educational settings under typical conditions, the REL Mid-Atlantic research team looked for promising, replicable practices that were being used broadly by teachers in U.S. schools, for which research showed…

"Impact" is possibly the most frequently evaluated construct associated with any kind of technological diffusion or adoption within educational settings. Seemingly endless research projects are funded to measure it and to validate the educational value we have become adept at inscribing into practically all novel technologies brought to…