A lack of student motivation is a problem in many courses in electrical engineering. Introducing competition between students can enhance their motivation, but it can also generate negative emotions. This paper presents an empirical study of students in a telecommunications engineering degree; it measured their level of motivation, and their…

Describes INFOTHEK, an information system which uses computerised semantic networks, problem analysers, and guidance programs to enable the student to move quickly into a new field. The proposed systems installed on a computer are complementary to highly structured information modules presented on paper, film, videotape, etc. The author discusses…

Identifies weaknesses of conceptual modelling languages for the problem domain of information systems (IS) development. Outlines an approach called facet modelling of real-world problem domains to deal with the complexity of contemporary analysis problems. Shows how facet models can be defined and visualized; discusses facet modelling in relation…

Overview of expert systems (intelligent computer applications that use data, a knowledge base, and a control mechanism to solve problems) highlights history of expert systems; construction (human element, knowledge acquisition and learning, system architecture); limitations; issues and trends; and implications for information science. Thirty-three…

The efficient use of information depends on the way it is organized. Haphazard information may serve some useful purpose, but for a particular purpose, information needs to be processed into another structure which more easily fulfills that purpose. This booklet examines the concepts of information and information processing with the intention of…

A broad range of well-structured problems--embracing forms of diagnosis, catalog selection, and skeletal planning--are solved in expert computer systems by the method of heuristic classification. These programs have a characteristic inference structure that systematically relates data to a pre-enumerated set of solutions by abstraction, heuristic…

PROMIS (Problem Oriented/Medical Information System), a performance-based system of medical education, is described and suggestions for its application to other educational settings are discussed. PROMIS emphasizes the clarification of educational goals and the evaluation of students doing real work in real settings. (JMD)

This course is the fifth of seven in the Information Systems curriculum. The purpose of the course is to build on skills acquired in the earlier courses. It reviews the importance of information to management and the organization and information systems concepts within an office. These components are provided for each task area: behavioral…

An Intelligent Information System (IIS) uses data warehouse technology to facilitate the cycle of data and knowledge processing, including input, standardization, storage, representation, retrieval, calculation, and delivery. This article provides an overview of IIS products and artificial intelligence systems, illustrates examples of IIS…