This paper describes the characteristics of "smart schools" and offers guidelines for developing such schools. Smart schools are defined as having three features: (1) they are computer networked via local area networks in order to share information through teleconferencing, databases, and electronic mail; (2) they are connected beyond…

This report describes an interactive video program designed to help college biology students with their abilities to visually discriminate between instructional images, and to think critically about those images. A brief discussion of interactive video technology is provided, including details about videodisks, CD-ROM databases, computer software,…

More than 13 million privately-owned wells and over 100,000 public water supply sources pump ground water to approximately 123 million Americans daily for personal, commercial, industrial, and agricultural uses. Yet, even as the nation's need for water grows, the prevailing lack of public knowledge and understanding about this resource leads to…

Researchers of gender differences in computer-related behaviors have reported a confusing picture. When asked which sex is more positive toward computers, more apt at using computers, and more likely to use a computer, one would be best advised to answer "it depends." It depends on what attitudes you are measuring, what skills you are…

Educational technology is a significant resource for meaningful, active, sensory, and relevant instruction for limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in the elementary grades, particularly those students who are educationally disadvantaged. It is suitable for bridging the instructional gap in bilingual education so these children can have the…

This publication provides one-paragraph descriptions of projects funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement of the U.S. Department of Education to state and public libraries under the Foreign Language Materials Acquisition Program, Title V of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA). In fiscal year 1993, 104 applications…

This paper analyzes four personal financial planning "expert systems," which institutions of higher education might offer their employees. Such computerized planning systems, like comprehensive plans and professional planners, help families manage their assets and obligations during their lifetimes and plan for distributing their wealth…

This study presents a formative evaluation of "The Intelligent Physics Tutor," an interactive software program designed to improve high school physics students' problem-solving skills. The purposes of this evaluation were to describe how the "Tutor" was used in the pilot high school class; to determine teacher and student…

This case study involved the incorporation of prototype multimedia instructional materials into a fifth-grade classroom in a public elementary school for a period of 6 weeks. The research was conducted in the Hillcrest School in a suburb of New York City. Shortly after their introduction into the classroom, microcomputers, interactive video…

Highlighting the issues that confront small libraries who are exploring automation options, this report focuses on microcomputer-based automation systems for circulation and an online patron access catalog (OPAC). The information provided outlines some of the questions that librarians must ask themselves or vendors before they select a specific…

An attempt is made is this paper to examine the validity of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale through a comparison of the scaling of speaking tasks and speech performances by the scale and by a Rasch analysis of judgments made by "naive" persons. The results of the multi-faceted Rasch analysis seem…

This guide, designed to help institutions plan integrated information systems which will enable them to meet their needs for data on foreign students was developed during a 3-day seminar in February, 1984. The first of five chapters provides a brief introduction on how to use the planning guide. Chapter 2 contains information designed to guide the…

At San Juan College, the effectiveness of student basic skills assessment and course placement advisement was significantly improved through the implementation of Computerized Placement Testing (CPT). The CPT lab houses 15 personal computers and is staffed by professional counselors and student services aides. Students are not allowed to leave the…

This project developed a new kind of computer simulation and explored its impact on teaching and learning in introductory biology. The aims of the project were to: (1) develop a flexible simulation environment that would permit students to design, build, and test realistic simulations; (2) support student experimentation with intelligent tutoring…

The Print and Computer Enlargement (PACE) System is being designed as a portable computerized reading and writing system that enables a low-vision person to read regular print and then create and edit text using large-print computerized output. The design goal was to develop a system that: weighed no more than 12 pounds so it could be easily…