This document represents the higher education and library community's guiding public policy agenda on information technology (IT) for the current year. The Higher Education Information Technology (HEIT) Alliance is a coalition of 11 national higher education and library associations, whose members represent a broad array of stakeholders on college…

This report highlights significant work of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General for the 6-month period ending September 30, 2004. Sections include: Activities and Accomplishments; Elimination of Fraud and Error in Student Aid Programs; Budget and Performance Integration; Financial Management; Expanded Electronic…

Introduces five articles in a special journal issue devoted to research about, design of, and use of multimodal interfaces. Article highlights include: algebra instruction; presentation of data summaries; interaction with complex spatial displays (maps); access to computing for the visually impaired; and design for portable devices for use in…

Introduces a multiagent architecture based on the blackboard system that enables different processes that perform multimodal presentation planning to communicate with each other. Describes a constraint propagation mechanism that transfers plan constraints from one level of the presentation planning process to the next. Discusses the cooperation…

Librarians providing information services electronically must create useful information systems. This article illustrates that the effectiveness of an information system is characterized by its readability, browsability, searchability, and interactive assistance. Describes the concept of interactive assistance and how it relates to information…

Illustrates how the "Big Six Skills" model of information problem solving (Task Definition, Information Seeking Strategies, Location and Access, Use of Information, Synthesis, and Evaluation) is a perfect match to the influx of technology in student research. Outlines two typical assignments that focus the Big Six perspective on the…

Notes teachers must instruct students to look at four aspects of evaluating information found on the Web: (1) the purpose of the article or other information; (2) the author's credibility; (3) publication date and the date of the last updating; and (4) wording of site titles. Asserts that promoting good print materials and non-Internet electronic…

Discusses the availability of full-text periodical archives on the World Wide Web. Highlights include digitized photographs and other images, in addition to text, costs, the use of search engines, and a list of Web sites. (LRW)

This paper discusses the difficulty of accurately predicting the future role of information technology, presents an overview of technological advances, and highlights such special interest areas as virtual reality, the information highway, and the influence of computers on traditional ways of thinking. (SM)

Examines paradigm shifts in the conceptualization of representational play, and implications for children's learning. Argues that children's play is culturally defined, valued, and interpreted and therefore, theories of play should be culturally specific. Advocates ethnographic research to avoid deficit models for non-Western children, and more…

Describes and evaluates two USEPA shareware programs called Principles of On-Site Wastewater Treatment (ONSITE) and Residential Waste Treatment Evaluation (RWASTE). ONSITE, a tutorial, provides an overview of septic systems and their relationship to soils. RWASTE builds on ONSITE. Both are effective tools for persons interested in acquiring…

Seventeen libraries of the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States are described, noting their founding dates, staffing (professional librarians, computer specialists and support staff, hourly/student staff), collections, Web site addresses, changing uses of technology, and special features. (MSE)

Better managerial control in terms of decision making and understanding the costs of a system/service result from allocating indirect costs. Allocation requires a three-step process: selecting cost objectives, pooling related overhead costs, and selecting costs bases to connect the objectives to the pooled costs. Argues that activity-based costing…

Sarah Warner is manager of content licensing for Amulet, which provides an Internet-based automated research service in information technology (InfoWizard). In this interview, she discusses her work experience as a cataloger and information center manager, carry over skills from past positions, her present responsibilities in content management,…

Presents a planning checklist for staff technology training. Includes forming a committee and developing proposals, contacting pertinent people, handling publicity, sending invitations, distributing schedules/registration information, arranging for equipment, purchasing prizes, conducting preliminary checks on equipment and software, ordering…