Discussion of a prototype intelligent education system called WOMBAT (Weighted Objectives Method by Arguing with the Tutor) focuses on dialogue and negotiation in collaborative problem solving. The results of a formative evaluation, in which the system was used by 10 subjects who commented on various aspects of the design, are presented. (Contains…

A behavioral systems analysis approach to higher education was used to design, implement, evaluate, and recycle a computer-based fluency training component of a behavioral instructional system. This component helped 29 students achieve behavior analysis literacy. The computer-based training provided structure, immediate performance feedback, and…

Describes "Story Producer for InteractivE Learning" (SPIEL) a multimedia retrieval system for educational stories, and its integration into an architecture called "Guided Social Simulation" (GuSS), for teaching complex social skills such as management, diplomacy, or selling. Highlights include an example of the use of SPIEL,…

Discusses multimedia design and the shift in models from computer-assisted instruction and audiovisual learning to multimedia environments and computer-based learning environments. Topics addressed include multimedia generations and architectures; changing trends in software development; object-oriented design; and the design of media systems.…

Considers the potential of Lego TC Logo, a product that integrates Lego building materials with computers, for creating contexts for learning that give elementary school students a sense that their work is authentic. Topics include the concept of authentic learning situations; consequences of unauthentic classrooms; cooperation; and evaluation.…

Describes an intelligent computer-assisted learning system that is able to generate individualized courses of instruction for students with different background knowledge and different purposes. Highlights include system architecture; domain knowledge base and student model; authoring by the teacher; courseware planning; and pedagogical tuning by…

Examines the current status and short-term future of computer software development in higher education. Topics discussed include educational advantages of software; current program development techniques, including object oriented programming; and market trends, including IBM versus Macintosh and multimedia programs. (LRW)

Describes the construction of capacitors using commercially available double-sided printed circuit boards. Presents activities using these capacitors. (PR)

One hundred educational psychology master's and doctoral students in New York state were surveyed about career objectives. At both levels, students intended to devote more than half their time to academic work. Topics such as computer-assisted instruction and instructional technology were of less interest than more traditional specialties. (SLD)

Examines the potential contributions of computers to medical education and, in particular, the use of computer-based study guides. Presents the educational functions of various study guide components and lists advantages and disadvantages of computer-based study guides over print-based guides. (LZ)

Teachers appreciate online services with tailored education features--such as Classroom Prodigy, the Scholastic Network on American Online, and dedicated portions of Compuserve and Delphi Internet Services. Online services are speedier and more accessible than Internet, allow interstudent communications, and offer teachers a low-cost menu of…

The author anticipates that sophisticated interactive computer programs will be effective in improving screening and case finding of the suicidal and that they will become invaluable in improving training for primary care providers and outpatient mental health workers. Additionally, improved communication networks will help maintain continuity of…

Computers may someday replace teachers at essay grading. In recent research, a blind test has demonstrated that a computer can simulate the judgment of a group of human judges on a brand-new set of essays. Moreover, the PEG (Project Essay Grade) program can do a better (and more cost-effective) job than the usual two human readers while providing…

Student Assistant for Learning from Text (SALT) is a software system for developing hypermedia versions of textbooks for students with reading difficulties. Ten students with learning disabilities in grades 9 and 10 read passages from a science textbook in either the basic or computer-enhanced version. Students using the enhanced version received…

A newly developed, computer-based, videodisc instructional program to teach speechreading skills was evaluated using 74 hearing college students. The program provides users with practice in speechreading words, sentences, and stories presented by over 150 people. Results indicated a significant improvement in speechreading ability from pretest to…