Discusses design principles and procedures that can help librarians use desktop publishing systems to create more effective handouts for bibliographic instruction. Topics addressed include a history of book production; design decisions, including layout, typeface, and color; and suggested readings on designing printed materials. (four references)…

Describes the implementation of a computer projection system for medium to small classrooms at the University of Vermont. Requirements for the system are discussed, including ease of use, compatibility, software, and network capabilities; and selection decisions for the computer, the projection system, and the support equipment are explained.…

Explains aspects of the design and loading of high-ropes courses and other challenge-course equipment. Discusses the engineer's factor of safety, determined by industry standards or the level of risk considered acceptable; definitions of terms for material strength; and the forces involved in loads sustained by belay ropes and cables. (SV)

Home-built adventure-education courses exhibit refreshing creativity but almost always fall short of their potential due to inadequate construction techniques and materials. A ropes course inspector for the adventure education industry discusses the most common mistakes made in home-built ropes courses and how to prevent or fix them. (TD)

Explains that a corporate Web application is a corporate information system that uses World Wide Web technology to provide access to a variety of corporate information resources for internal and external users in geographically distributed locations. Top-down development is explained, and design requirements are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Planning and implementing a website requires the participation of most school or district departments. There are four phases: planning and information gathering (pertaining to audience, cost estimation, purpose, content, and scope); design and layout considerations; construction and implementation; and final integration (involving policy and legal…

Discusses how architects successfully added a new 10,000 square-foot building, complete with glass-fronted library and skylit art room, to two existing structures built at different times and with different floor heights. Photos and a floorplan are included. (GR)

Discusses athletic facility design and renovation issues that exist because of increasing numbers of female athletes. Outlines renovation issues such as locker room facilities, space for sports equipment, and additional athletic fields. (GR)

Discussion of learning a new computer software program focuses on how to support the joint handling of a manual, input devices, and screen display. Describes a study that examined three design styles for manuals that included screen images to reduce split-attention problems and discusses theory versus practice and cognitive load theory.…

Discusses how design projects can best be encountered through a designer approach that is inclusive of theoretical and practical knowledge as well as the capacity for pragmatic action. Highlights include design cultures and cultures of design; foundations of design; fundamental activities supported upon the foundations of design; and design…

Addresses how to integrate various types of light within the context of library design. Discusses light basics; the light spectrum; light measurement; reflectance; glare and brightness ratio; daylighting; electric lighting; and computer screens and lighting. Includes a checklist for plan review. (Author/LRW)

There is a fundamental change occurring in higher education--a pedagogic shift from teaching to learning. This shift is being driven by considerable and significant research into educational theory, behavioral and cognitive sciences and human development. In the past, a common mode of teaching was lecturing. Today, many faculty facilitate…

A rapidly changing global economy, shifting demographics, and concerns about our ability to maintain a competitive workforce have focused national attention on the educational systems of America's states, highlighting their critical role in ensuring a productive and creative future for our country. As a result, Americas colleges and universities…

This paper describes how digital talking books (DTBs) with embedded functionality for learners can be generated from content structured according to the OU OpenLearn schema. It includes examples showing how a software transformation developed from open source components can be used to remix OpenLearn content, and discusses issues concerning the…

Computer-supported discursive learning (CSDL) systems for the support of asynchronous discursive learning need to fulfill specific socio-technical conditions. To understand these conditions, we employed design experiments combining aspects of communication theory, empirical findings, and continuous improvement of the investigated prototypes. Our…