The two interconnected problems of educational quality and piracy are described and analyzed in this book, which begins with an investigation of the accusations regarding the alleged dismal quality of educational software. The reality behind accusations of rampant piracy and the effect of piracy on the quality of educational software is examined…

Issues related to the illegal copying or piracy of educational software in the schools and its potential effect on quality software availability are discussed. Copyright violation is examined as a reason some software producers may be abandoning the school software market. An explanation of what the copyright allows and prohibits in terms of…

The 1980 Amendments (P.L. 95-517) to the updated Copyright Law of 1976 contain two major provisions pertaining to computers. First, only one copy of the master copy of a piece of software may be legally duplicated--the backup copy made by the owner for archival purposes. Second, the only other legal copy of the master copy owned by the user is…

Three categories of legal issues generated by computers on campus are examined: copyrights on programs developed by students, faculty, or staff; contracts in purchasing computers and torts concerning wrongful use; and the expectation that schools will respond to legal/ethical issues differently than commercial organizations. Suggestions for…

Focuses on legal problems related to copyright that might arise from teaching via the Internet. Discusses the basics of copyright law; owner's rights; subject matter of copyright; copyright requirements; infringement action and remedies; the fair-use doctrine; guidelines for classroom copying; two views about controls on the Internet; the White…

A study investigating the value of computer use integrated into first-year instruction in legal methods, legal writing, and torts found that the actual amount of computer use was positively and significantly associated with grade point averages and was more beneficial to students beginning from lower scholastic positions. (MSE)

The purpose of this study is to determine the number of counselor education programs that utilize distance learning, to identify the distance learning software delivery products used, and to identify features of software used. The researchers also attempt to identify faculty perceptions related to and experience with the importance of distance…

Discusses the selection and evaluation of locally mounted computer files for health sciences libraries, including informational programs such as bibliographic and factual databases; computer-assisted instruction programs; and expert systems. Topics addressed include print sources; database sources; selection criteria, including content and cost;…

To provide information about potential legal problems that might arise from using and distributing instructional materials and designing activities for Internet-based instruction, this article analyzes court cases and decisions relating to course packets; illustrations and figures; learning activities; video, sound and graphic images; and…

Six exploratory papers by different authors from both the corporate sector and the public school systems present several relevant perspectives on business/education collaboration. The first, by Dr. Marsha Levine (who also provides the introduction to the collection), suggests three analytic frameworks for planning and implementing public/private…

This report addresses the barriers college students with disabilities face in the laboratory setting. In engineering, mathematics, and science education most courses require laboratory work which may pose challenges to those with disabilities. Instructors should be aware of the individual needs of students with disabilities and make necessary…

For the thirty-first year, the Research and Theory Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) sponsored the publication of these Proceedings. Papers were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Orlando, Florida. This year's Proceedings has two sections--Section 1 includes research and development papers and…