Discusses the key questions facility managers should ask during the selection process for a facility-maintenance software program. Questions include ease of use, asset modeling capabilities, ease of reconfiguration, and software scaleability. (GR)

A systematic approach to teaching software provides instructional precision and maximum learning support, best suited for novices. A minimalist approach focused on context and student experience enables advanced learners to examine problem-solving processes and apply concepts to real-world problems. (SK)

Discussion of using document-management software to locate, acquire, and process articles for storage in an academic scholar's personal collection focuses on a study that examined the feasibility of using either DB/TextWorks or PageKeeper. Results favor PageKeeper due to a lower cost, ease of use, and other features. (Author/LRW)

Presents the first year's results of a continuing project to monitor the availability of software of relevance for literacy education purposes. Concludes there is an enormous amount of software available for use by teachers of reading and literacy--whereas drill-and-practice software is the largest category of software available, large numbers of…

Discusses science mapping in the general context of information visualization and reviews attempts to construct maps of science using citation data, focusing on the use of co-citation clusters. Reports new work on a dataset of 36,00 documents using simplified methods for ordination and nesting maps hierarchically. Also discusses virtual-reality…

Describes the conception of pedagogical software aimed at explaining the fundamental notions of configuration and conformation of biological molecules using monosaccharides as a model. (CCM)

Describes a facilities-management software program that helps managers better document and understand maintenance backlogs, improvements, and future cyclic renewal needs. Major software components are examined including a software tool that filters, groups, and ranks projects to help determine funding requests. (GR)

Describes 15 art and music computer software products for classroom use. "Best bets" (mostly secondary level) include Clearvue Inc.'s Art of Seeing, Sunburst Technology's Curious George Paint & Print Studio, Inspiration Software's Inspiration 6.0, Harmonic Vision's Music Ace 2, and Coda Music Technology's PrintMusic! 2000 and SmartMusic Studio.…

Explains how standardizing computer system hardware and software throughout the school campus can increase efficiency; reduce costs and acquisition lead time; and make training, technical support, and hardware replacement and repair easier. Questions to ask when choosing among different hardware and software systems are highlighted. (GR)

Presents a group of semiotic principles for software design and uses them to show how they explain different educational possibilities. Discusses interface design and describes Theater in the Computer, a software environment for children, to illustrate semiotic-based principle of interface design. (Author/LRW)

Discusses reasons for and ways of using computer software to teach mechanics. Describes using software to explore mechanics, challenge misconceptions, make links between mathematical representations and motion, and solve non-standard problems. Stresses the need for structured approaches to the use of software. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/ASK)

Explains the controversy surrounding the Office Assistant ("Paper-Clip") in Microsoft's Office 97. Discusses why actual readers rejected the default Office Assistant's role as implied writer and rebelled against the reader role implied for them. Notes users resented its intrusive behavior, rejected its implied writer role, and refused to…

Presents research on gender and attitudes toward technology. Describes the history of computer technology, noting its influence on the language we use; the design of software; and computer usage in schools. Discusses how much gender bias pervades computer technology and makes it less friendly for girls. (Contains 14 references.) (ASK)

Suggests that the annual conference on computers and writing has remained on the cutting edge of technology and composition pedagogy. Notes changes--presenters discuss their uses of commercial applications rather than demonstrate homemade programs; instructors are more concerned with how users may manipulate others through technology; and the…

Considers the availability of pornography, particularly child pornography, on the Internet and child access to it. Defines pornographic material and child pornography, discusses its commercial and noncommercial uses and the responsibility for child access, and presents solutions: content tagging; CyberAngels, a volunteer group created by the…