The ability of individuals to concentrate on a learning activity is strongly influenced by factors in their environment. Therefore, the author of this paper has offered a number of suggestions about how the classroom environment can be made more conducive to learning. (RH)

Identifies human factor issues involved in the student-computer interface in computer assisted instruction and makes specific recommendations for screen design. Factors considered include simplicity, spaciousness, relevance, standardization, changing display screen contents, color coding, shape and size coding, and brightness coding. (Author/LRW)

Quality of Work Life (QWL) is involvement. It brings employees, unions, and management closer together for their mutual benefit. QWL implies a philosophical change in some basic and long-standing rules of behavior for unions as well as management. (SSH)

This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper seeks to (1) summarize what is currently known about an important aspect of work and employment, namely training and retraining, that involves the ability of older adults to learn new skills and adapt to new environments; (2) highlight issues and questions that need to be addressed to promote healthy…

Given the emerging trend of innovating Instructional Design process (ID) for Human Performance Technology (HPT) related application in order to more effectively addressing organizational performance problems in industries, it is necessary to prepare students majoring in Instructional Design or Educational Technology in terms of how they can apply…

Discusses the importance of knowing the psychological environment of individuals in order to plan effective social change. (SB)

A young, St. Louis, Missouri, architectural firm, seeking a personal style of practice, has succeeded in creating structures that reveal client input, and which are sensitive, articulate, and at ease with complexity. Describes an elementary school, a condominium, a shopping mall, a high school, and a "community mall." Illustrated with photographs…

Surveyed are 53 techniques for measuring human physical characteristics and emotional responses in the belief that problems should be solved on the basis of what is good for people.'' (BL)

Short descriptions of NSF support for the State University of New York computer network, one year trial of educational materials from the United Kingdom's Open University, A Dartmouth course on control of life, Stanford action on a course on dysgenics, and a bioengineering program at Texas A&M. (TS)

Summarizes results of a behavioral research study of the preferences of 358 office workers. (Author)

Describes an interactive data retrieval system which was designed and implemented for casual users and which incorporates a user-friendly interface, aids to train beginners in use of the system, versatility in output, and error recovery protocols. A 14-item reference list and two figures illustrating system operation and output are included. (JL)

Discusses theory of mental models--i.e., representations of relationships within a system which enable the user to produce mental simulations of the system's actions and develop ways of dealing with it--and its implications for user training, interface design, and overall systems design. (EJS)

Shows how cognitive psychology can provide guidelines to design computer systems that are easy to use, based on the assumption that prior knowledge of the real world and natural language affect users' attitudes toward the computer. Concludes that human-computer communication is facilitated when the system is consistent with this knowledge.…

A survey of 72 member libraries in the Association of Research Libraries revealed the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the measures taken to cope with it. Recommends implementing proactive ergonomics programs; soliciting staff input for solutions; providing report guidelines; using external help; stressing preventive measures and…