How can the average educator who teaches online, without experience in evaluating emerging technologies, build on what is successful and modify what is not? Written for educators who feel ill-prepared when required to evaluate e-learning initiatives, "Evaluating e-Learning" offers step-by-step guidance for conducting an evaluation plan of…

Suggests that, in reviewing software, educators should apply the following criteria within the context of their objectives and the students' needs: content; instructional presentation; demands placed on the learner; technical features; and documentation and management features. Concludes that integration of computer software with traditional means…

Suggests that good software: constitutes a coherent text within a consistent theoretical framework; encourages users to take action; makes sense of complexity of information; has a consistent interface; allows connection to other programs; lets the user know what is going on; and is flexible from the teacher's and the student's points of view. (RS)

Offers criteria for selecting software for a computer-equipped classroom/writing lab: identifying uses, versatility, and ease of use. Concludes with advice for teachers to write their own applications programs. (RS)

Offers advice on the selection of child care administrative software. Directors should consider needs, computer experience, budget, time, and temperament, and should also ask lots of questions and test demo versions. Choices range from custom programs and existing business products to child care administrative software packages. Includes directory…

Identifies some of the common features of authoring programs. Outlines factors to consider when buying an authoring software package, including access to equipment, development and maintenance of courseware, purchasing and updating hardware and software, platform selection, and authoring skills. Presents a list of questions to ask vendors before…

Offers guidelines for reviewing and evaluating English language arts software. Includes advice on using the guidelines. (RS)

Discusses 12 questions that teachers and administrators should ask when evaluating educational software. Considers points such as the consistency with the curriculum, the appropriateness of media and activities, the opportunity for practice and review, the allowance for social interaction, and the accessibility to students. (SR)

Increases in the availability of technology, the range of content software, and curriculum via the Internet have placed countless options in the hands of teachers. Similarly, increasing accountability has placed added pressure on teachers to meet stated objectives and ensure student performance. How can teachers optimize available technologies and…

Ideas are presented for identifying, evaluating, and selecting instructional software for children with special needs. The article notes several library research tools as sources of information and lists specific questions to consider when evaluating software. (JDD)

Argues educators need to identify software that will effectively support children with reading difficulties. Discusses: why computers should be used to aid struggling readers; what makes good software and why; and what software to select for classroom use. Contains an evaluation device that can be used by educators selecting software for classroom…

Offers 10 guidelines for librarians responsible for making decisions on whether to upgrade application software. Examines the Internet, client/server LAN (local area network) architecture, developments in contemporary stand-alone systems, and graphic user interfaces to determine their impact on the upgrading process. (AEF)

Librarians everywhere are struggling with the difficult issue of whether Internet content can or should be limited in library settings. This book discusses Internet content filters as tools with performance issues. The book does not debate whether Internet filters are good or bad. Rather, it presents basic factual information about filtering…

Presents guidelines for selecting World Wide Web search engines. Real-life questions were used to test six search engines. Queries sought company information, product reviews, medical information, foreign information, technical reports, and current events. Compares performance and features of AltaVista, Excite, HotBot, Infoseek, Lycos, and Open…

Presents an overview of Disk Operating System (DOS)-based computer-supported collaborative work group writing tools. Suggests a framework to classify group writing tools. (RS)