Advocates computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for developing emergent literacy skills of adult students. Discusses types of CAI formats that engage adults in holistic, concept-driven instruction. Describes specific software programs useful for adults functioning at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of reading proficiency. (SR)

Provides an overview of developments in authoring tools and describes ways to categorize products by platform, type of end-product, sophistication of end-product, and authoring metaphor. Discusses products from AimTech, Allegiant, Allen Communication, Asymetrix, Corel, Discovery Systems International, Enigma, Harrow Media, Horizons, Innovus,…

Examines virtual-learning communities in higher education from a student's perspective. Discusses student-centered learning, cooperative learning, e-mail, listservs, bulletin boards, discussion groups, newsgroups, real-time discussion and the appropriate software, the World Wide Web, levels of effort needed for online learning, and a sense of…

A case study investigated how the implementation of a "strategy redundancy" device, which consisted of the instructor's use of five teaching strategies and their mirroring in five features of a Webware package developed by the instructor, affected the participants' (graduate-level Internet course with eight teachers/three students) learning…

Examines the optimal scope for the navigation map in hypermedia courseware. Compares the influence of the scope of the navigation map on disorientation of participants, 146 fifth-grade students. Results show: the navigation map scope impacted pupils' performance in terms of searching steps; a larger field is better, although it does not…

Focuses on various technological tools that support online learning: e-mail (voice mail); online discussion groups; online resources; CD-ROM; online courseware; asynchronous communication; synchronous communication; and World Wide Web. Analyzes the attributes of online delivery systems, addressing interactivity and feedback; media features;…

Presents an exploratory case study with preservice teacher education students of an experience in collaborative discourse mediated through an educationally designed network-based application. Topics include computer mediated communication; text-based communication; small group discussion; and software design, including the design of IdeaWeb that…

Reviews strengths and weaknesses of check lists for the evaluation of computer software and outlines consequences for their practical application. Suggests an approach based on an instructional design model and a comprehensive framework to cope with problems of validity and predictive power of software evaluation. Discusses prospects of the…

Discusses criteria for selecting course-development software for multimedia distance-learning projects, particularly for business training. Course creation (including test generation), content delivery (including links to other applications, client software, and collaboration and communication capabilities), and administration and management…

Analyzes the construction of mathematical concepts and techniques developed by high school algebra students in computer-assisted instruction; examines learning styles of the most inventive students; and discusses the use of student-generated mathematical techniques in the development of new software intended to cultivate mathematical inventiveness…

This study modeled teaching with a computer-based concordancer in a Teaching English-as-a-Second-Language program. Preservice teachers were randomly assigned to work with computer concordancing software or vocabulary exercises to develop word attack skills. Pretesting and posttesting indicated that computer concordancing was more effective in…

Reports the reactions and attitudes of students to taking a computer-based course through two questionnaires. Data from the study are analyzed in detail, and the attitudes and reactions of the students are linked to features of the computer-based learning (CBL) material and its use, and to possible more general attitudes of the students.…

Provides a background to the development of the Internet; discusses Web sites as foreign-language-learning tools; and describes the Nicenet Internet Classroom Assistant that can be used as a software template for teachers to create their own Internet pages for foreign-language instruction. (Author/LRW)

Reports on an experiment in which a course in psychology was replaced by a mixed formula consisting of a CD-ROM complemented by seminars and workshops. The CD-ROM was conceived as a collection of documents linked together with Netscape facilities. Students searched through these documents for information to answer questions (challenges) on the…

Discusses ways to integrate software-based programs and other new technologies into art education. Provides examples of student activities that are cross-curricular in nature, including computer-based publishing for artwork and writing; and suggests incorporating new technology with traditional methods. (LRW)