Two projects, the Milford (Pennsylvania) Reservation Solar Conservation Center and Prototype Passive Solar Townhouses, are designed for solar energy--one as a learning center, the other as urban infill housing. (Author/MLF)

The design, layout, and orientation of sports facilities should be planned, and sites selected, so that the majority of the players will not be affected by the direct rays of the sun. (JD)

Describes programed classroom instruction, indicating that it should be sequenced in small steps around complete concepts to elicit responses from students and provide immediate feedback. Notes that this instructional method involves students completely but requires more preparation time and training for the teacher. A sample of programed material…

Discusses cognition and distance learning, reviews recent research on instruction to help designers create courses that transform passive students into autonomous learners, and describes the scaffold knowledge integration framework and uses it to interpret current approaches to distance learning. (110 references) (Author/LRW)

Examines Web sites on the Internet that were created especially for teenagers by various public libraries. Highlights include young adult areas and services in actual library buildings; a list of outstanding teen Web sites; and a list of factors to consider when creating a young adult Web page. (LRW)

Discusses challenges that arise in creating school entranceways that meld accessibility with attractiveness, noting the importance of considering both aesthetic impact and the design mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Creative solutions include tying a walkway into a progressive stair; incorporating the ramp into a masonry…

Discussion of Web page design covers balancing text and graphics; pixels; graphic file formats; dithering; and caching. (LRW)

Describes recent improvements in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) offered by online services. Highlights include design considerations, including computer engineering capabilities and users' abilities; fundamental GUI design principles; user empowerment; visual communication and interaction; and an evaluation of online search interfaces. (LRW)

Introduces the concept of designing World Wide Web pages that facilitate information seeking and problem solving; describes a model for information problem-solving and techniques for applying the model to Web page design; and lists Web page design guides, both online and print resources. (Author/LRW)

Analyzes the requirements for constructing collaborative learning activities in distance computer assisted learning (CAL) systems; shows why an active database can satisfy the requirements with a collaborative homework example; and proposes procedures for using an active database to construct collaborative learning activities in distance CAL…

Describes a collection of systematic theory-based analyses of a system prototype that inherited its control mechanisms from preexisting systems. Demonstrates that collective use of system and user modeling techniques provides insight into a complex design problem, enabling the examination of design decisions for users and implementation. Discusses…

Presents an interview with Stephen McCarthy, co-partner and president of Equal Access ADA Consulting Architects of San Diego, California, about designing schools to naturally integrate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (EV)

Presents the design and implementation of a reliable multipeer protocol (RMPP), which is written in Java and is suitable for applications in the area of distributed virtual environments (DVEs). Discusses motivation, protocol classification, design goals and the error recovery algorithm and lists implementation issues. Presents two possible…

Describes a project to define the images of Telluride (Colorado) held by its residents and tourists and contributing to sense of place. Discusses the design of the town's entry points and efforts to maintain their visual environments in harmony with the town's defined character during ongoing community development. (SV)

Outlines factors to be considered in planning a dedicated room when a school system plans to become involved in a network of interactive television for distance learning. (MLF)