Describes "Focus," a software tool for collecting reader comments more efficiently. Discusses the design and rationale of the software. Notes that results obtained using Focus were compared to the reader feedback collected under the plus-minus method. Concludes that Focus participants appeared to comment more from a reviewer's and less…

Argues that traditional methods of testing software products leave too little time for major modifications and that in-cycle usability testing is required. Reports a study of environmental factors that constrain such testing. Concludes that it is not yet routine because of budget and staff limitations, lack of performance standards, and untrained…

Describes an interactive computer program, COLOR-TEST, that was developed at the Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria) to teach color harmony and color coordination to industrial design students. A brief evaluation of the program is presented, and further developments for the program are suggested. (nine references) (LRW)

This paper looks at bugs and errors in the following commonly used statistical packages: SAS, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Biomedical Data Plan (BMDP), and Minitab. A section on using the Internet to keep up to date on these packages covers subscribing to statistical software lists, searching statistical software lists,…

Development and piloting of an interactive multimedia package, designed for incorporation into introductory accounting education at James Cook University (Australia) are described. The module includes four sessions, equivalent to one semester's curriculum. The materials were tested with students, faculty, and practitioners to determine their…

Describes Hyper Apuntes, an interactive learning environment developed at the University Carlos III of Madrid which teaches students the basic concepts of computer programming. Discusses results of an evaluation of the courseware that assessed its usability and utility and collected suggestions for improving the system. (Author/LRW)

PLUS, an authoring system designed to develop cross-platform courseware for different computer types, was evaluated for its portability (ability to run on multiple platforms without adjustment). The procedures and computer equipment used are described, and results are presented. It is concluded that PLUS produces highly portable programs. (MSE)

The process of developing and evaluating an interactive videodisc system to teach communication skills for community and institutional pharmacy practice settings is described. An interdisciplinary team was used to integrate therapeutics, communication theory, media design, video production, and computer programing in the software development…

Describes an integrated authoring environment, AIDA ("Ambiente Integrado de Desenvolvimento de Aplicacoes educacionais"), that was developed at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) for educational software. Highlights include the design module, a prototyping tool that allows for multimedia, simulations, and modularity; execution module;…

The College of the Desert (California) has created a multi-station technology training and development facility for faculty. HyperStudio has been adopted as the introductory tool for multimedia/hypermedia authoring for the following reasons: (1) the card/stack metaphor used by HyperStudio is easy for novices to understand and familiar to users of…

Computer-aided instruction incorporating interactive multimedia and network technologies can boost teaching effectiveness and student learning. This article describes the development and implementation of network server-based interactive multimedia courseware for a fundamental course in nuclear engineering. A student survey determined that 80% of…

Reports on the development and evaluation of "Practicing Spoken French," a multimedia HyperCard-based program designed to assess the effects of subtitled video on oral communicative performance of undergraduate students of French. Implications for computer-assisted language learning design and research are suggested. (Contains 31…

In this paper, an attempt to apply the synthesized results from previous research on theories of actual development of courseware is demonstrated in an interactive videodisc project that aims to promote English-as-a-foreign-language learning at Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. Instructional design and practical considerations for implementation of…

Describes the development, design, and implementation of study units for computer-assisted distance learning at the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong that provides higher education opportunities to working adults. Discusses evaluation of the system, including questionnaire and interview results. (LRW)

Describes a program template designed to organize lecture materials and easily display relevant text, graphics, video, and interactive questions. Compares this software that is directly linked to course objectives with a well-rated, commercially available program. (DDR)