The purpose of this article is to examine Universal Design (UD) applied to instruction as a means of promoting educational access to higher education, not only for students with disabilities but also for a broad range of diverse learners now very much a part of the fabric of higher education. A brief overview of UD is provided. Seminal literature…

In this article, the author talks about legibility as an essential component of education facility design. Legibility is concerned not only with stylistic consistency, but also with other design factors that help make a building understandable. Reconfigured interiors and multiple additions can create confusing paths. Illogical assortments of…

Think of New England higher education and one probably thinks of ivy-covered brick or perhaps 1950s concrete, but the environment of New England's college campuses is far more diverse, more complex, more daring, and more educational than the stereotype. It is changing fast, thanks to profound forces such as consumerization among students,…

In this article, the author talks about the importance of competence and how to be competent. Feeling competent is pretty important to a person in the places where he lives and works. Competence is also important to kids. That sense of "I can do it" fuels the child's drive to explore and succeed well. However, competence is always a moving target…

As adult office workers' use of computers has increased, the incidence of computer-related musculoskeletal complaints and injuries has also increased. Although the use of computers in the classroom is increasing, little attention has been paid by educators, furniture manufacturers, or researchers to the ergonomic design issues of educational…

This mix of presentation graphis, forms, and text presents guidelines for developing a school-district policy for selecting consultants to design and carry out school-building projects. The specific policy presented is that of the Bellevue (Washington) School District. The manual describes how to: (1) develop a written consultant-selection policy;…

In an increasingly technological environment, traditional teaching presentation methods such as the podium, overhead, and transparencies are no longer sufficient. This document serves as a guide to designing and planning an electronic classroom for "bidirectional" communication between teacher and student. Topics include: (1) determining…

Presenting specifications for the design and construction of a new campus for Arizona's Coconino Community College (CCC), this report reviews requirements related to the layout of the physical plant, the quality of building materials, and the incorporation of educational technology. The first section describes the mission of the new Flagstaff…

Designed as a special continuing education program for rehabilitation professionals, this document is divided into five lessons. Lesson 1, "Technology Assessment: Determining the Needs" (Ricardo G. Cerna), includes discussion on technology assessment and determining the needs of the clients as well as different types of assistive…

Findings of a survey of educational plants in Dade County, Florida, are presented in this document. The survey's purpose is to aid in formulating plans for housing the educational activities of district students and staff. Volume 1 contains facilities lists for elementary, middle, and high schools; vocational technical centers; exceptional…

This report provides a summary of the 2-year IVSET (Interactive Videodisc for Special Education Technology ) project which refined microcomputer and videodisc system hardware, produced instructional packages, and investigated the system effectiveness. These activities built on the achievements of a pilot project which had developed a preliminary…

This description of an interactive instructional computer program in sentence combining for upper elementary and middle school students begins by summarizing the content of the program, which focuses on the instructional technique in which students are given two or more short simple sentences to combine into one longer, complex and/or compound…

Guidelines and sample designs for the construction or renovation of libraries providing services to blind and handicapped individuals are introduced by brief discussions of the responsibilities of members of the planning team, planning prerequisites, funding, and architect and site selection. Barrier-free designs are then suggested for the entry…

The goal of the new Stiern Library at California State University at Bakersfield, as outlined in the introductory comments to these building and design specifications, is to bring together under one roof the various sources of the university's information and knowledge--i.e., library, computing, and media services--and to deliver information…

Both challenges and successes resulted from the implementation of computer-based or computer-assisted instruction (CAI) at Mercy College of Detroit through a program funded with a Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education (CAUSE) grant. Four influences were found most significant in faculty-related challenges: computer phobia,…