A study investigated the relative effects of using computers and writing by hand on secondary students' quality or quantity of writing, and on their attitudes toward writing. Subjects were 40 eighth-grade students in an Anglo-Chinese school in Hong Kong, with some experience in writing brief compositions. The word processing program used was…

This paper explores ways in which technology (especially microcomputers) can improve the access to and utility of educational data for school improvement efforts. The paper focuses on the product and project options available to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Database and School Profiling program, which offers technical and…

The design and use of a departmental decision support system at Florida State University are described from the perspective of a department head. The decisions selected for study are ones of adequacy, equitability, quality, efficiency, and consistency. The complexity of the decision is related to the complexity of the support system. The major…

A computerized information system was developed from specifications of 40 data elements to provide a database for decision making about problems relating to new admissions standards on a multi-campus, open admissions university. For over 400 entering freshman, multivariate analysis of the data elements and other standard predictors was used to…

The development and use of a campus-based computerized faculty staffing model is described. In addition to considering market demands for current and proposed programs, decisionmakers need to consider how program development, modification, and elimination affect the total college faculty resource base. The application of computer technology,…

A planned maintenance system, which was implemented at Washington State University (WSU), uniquely integrates functions of equipment inventory, scheduling, time reporting, project management, materials inventory, and billing. Management now has immediate access to equipment data, maintenance status, and costs. Staff requirements are readily…

A newspaper produced by students of English as a second language (ESL) is an old idea rarely put into practice. However, word processing and simple desktop publishing technology can help realize several often elusive goals of ESL: creation of an authentic information vehicle providing contact with a genuine audience (other students); involvement…

Intended for use by all machine shop instructors in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, this guide provides a sequential listing of course content and scope. A course description provides a brief overview of the content of the courses offered in the machine shop program. General course objectives are then listed. Outlines of the course…

The way that further education (FE) colleges in England can tailor information technology (IT) education and training programs to benefit industrial and commercial users was explored in a project undertaken by the Further Education Unit (FEU) on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The FEU based the project on its network of…

This review of the literature, derived from a comprehensive computer search of three databases (ERIC, ABI/INFORM, and Management Contents), discusses career development as an integral part of human development and its place in educational and community settings, with a particular emphasis on the current popularity of career development in…

Ideas that have been developed in the decision support systems (DSS) literature that seem particularly relevant to institutional research, planning, and analysis (IRPA) are reviewed. In addition, a survey of practitioners in Canadian universities that provides new information on the rapidly changing current state of information technology,…

This manual is designed to provide the background needed by counselors to evaluate and select a computer-assisted career guidance system (CACGS) for their institution or agency. The manual is comprised of nine chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 explore the career planning process and the terminology used in computerized guidance, while chapter 3 combines…

Management principles and trends are examined with attention to open higher education. Administrative activity includes policy-making, technical tasks, and institutional direction. Open higher education includes programs to prepare both professional and semi-skilled workers, as well as programs that meet personal and social aims. Participation in…

Advancement in computer technology comes at a time when agriculture is in transition from a production-oriented to a business-oriented activity and will require new skills and knowledge if farmers are to be prepared for the future. Electronic technology applications on 21st century commercial farms and ranches will include farm decision support…

The way that higher education planners can take into account changes in the post-industrial society is discussed. The scenario method is proposed as a method of integrating futures information. The planner can be provided with several probable futures, each of which can be incorporated in a scenario. An effective scenario provides the planner…