The Education Development Center of Newton, Massachusetts, recently pilot tested Make It Happen, an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning approach designed to integrate technology into the middle school curriculum while actively engaging students in their own instruction. The I-Search process reflects students' personal concerns and promotes…

This review of computer applications for curriculum-based measurement for students with disabilities looks at available software that provides automatic test administration, scoring, and feedback; automatic graphed analysis for teachers; and supplementary skills analysis. Such applications can save teacher time and provide accurate information…

Examines why the "paperless office" has failed to materialize despite the availability of appropriate information technology. Conceptual limits are discussed, including the continued reliance on relational database management systems; the use of free-text retrieval software is considered; and social limits are described, including access…

This fact sheet about the INTERNET Gopher, an information distribution system combining features of electronic bulletin board services and databases, describes information availability, gateways with other servers, how the system works, and how to access Gopher. Addresses and telephone numbers for additional information or news about Gopher are…

Examines the effects of real-life reading software versus skill-based reading software on inner-city public school students. Finds that students using the real-life reading software felt significantly better than those using skill-based software about their work with the computer and themselves as readers and writers. (RS)

Describes research conducted at Lancaster University (United Kingdom) which investigated design considerations that were necessary for the development of effective interactive video (IV) courseware for management education. The advantages of a videotape-based system as opposed to videodisc are described, and technologies to minimize the drawbacks…

Discusses conceptual constructs that may be useful for inservice teacher education programs evaluating the nature and educational use of instructional software for adult learners. Topics discussed include the increasing use and importance of computers in industry and in education; intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs); and the concept of an ideal…

Outlines evaluation criteria that may be used to determine the usefulness of science education computer software. Factors to be considered are identified as the nature of the investigation, advantages of the program over a laboratory investigation, number and types of higher order thinking skills required, concepts related to inquiry, and the…

Reviews the work of seven companies that produce multimedia children's storybooks on CD-ROM. Characteristics of each company's approach to children's literature are given, and the use of nonprint media to develop the story is discussed. Platform compatibility for 59 CD-ROM titles and publisher contact information are provided. (Contains three…

Discusses ethical and professional issues in psychology regarding computer-assisted therapy (CAT). Topics addressed include an explanation of CAT; whether CAT is psychotherapy; software, including independent use, validation of effectiveness, and restricted access; clinician resistance; client acceptance; the impact on ethical standards; and a…

Describes a study of graduate students that observed the interaction between users of a graphical statistical package and a human playing the role of a simulated intelligent advisory system to guide the design of advice-offering user-assistance software. The use of video to examine the users' role in the interaction is discussed. (Contains 37…

Explains abductive reasoning; compares it to more traditional forms of logic, i.e., deduction and induction; and describes a computerized tutorial called A.R.T. (Abductive Reasoning Tool) that was created to foster abductive reasoning. Implications of using abductive techniques in instructional design are suggested. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

Describes the Health Passport Project, a program that uses a centralized computer database for maintaining and distributing health and education records for children in foster care in San Diego, California. Includes a content analysis of the health information stored in the first 431 "passports." (MM)

This introduction to Database's annual review issue highlights trends covered in the 1991-93 reviews; lists 13 trends described as a continuation of the trends of the past 2 or 3 years; and discusses the World Wide Web and America Online's innovative development of a database that combines text, images, sound, and commentary. (KRN)

National Assessment of Educational Progress writing sample essays from 1988 and 1990 (495 and 599 essays) were subjected to computerized grading and human ratings. Cross-validation suggests that computer scoring is superior to a two-judge panel, a finding encouraging for large programs of essay evaluation. (SLD)