Argues that online help systems are often not helpful and even increase the user's frustration and stress level. States that an instructional design perspective can increase the effectiveness of online help systems, and offers a checklist. Examines the instructional components of the checklist and identifies ways they could be added to an online…

Provides an evaluation template for student activities professionals charged with evaluating competitive event scheduling software. Guides staff in making an informed decision on whether to retain event management technology provided through an existing vendor or choose "best-of-breed" scheduling software. (EV)

Describes how the authors took a small step toward using technology as they developed and used a rubric as a guide for reviewing software. Provides an example of the process of creating a rubric and a model for teachers to adapt or change for their own software evaluations. (SG)

Discusses what journalism advisers fear about developing and maintaining a web site. Offers hypothetical examples of how they might respond to the thought of starting up a web site. Addresses the technology, cost, and time involved. Suggests the toughest challenge is web site maintenance. (RS)

Teaching techniques and the use of grammar checking programs are described. Assignments using these programs are suggested. Four specific packages are reviewed. The importance of the revision process in writing is stressed. (CW)

This manual is intended as a guide and source of ideas for using single switches in adaptive software programming for people with disabilities who cannot use a traditional keyboard. The manual and associated program disk are comprised of over 100 programs, routines and files illustrating various uses of single switch and adaptive input devices.…

The result of a continuing study of software related to children with special needs, this guide is intended to assist in the selection of software appropriate for children with mental, physical, behavioral, sensory, and learning impairments. Suggestions for gifted children are also included. The guide is updated yearly and includes more than 190…

Written in simple language and designed in a large-print format, this short guide is aimed at teaching home economics teachers to use computers in their classrooms. The guide is organized in six sections. The first section covers the basics of computer equipment and explains how computers work while the second section outlines how to use…

A model approach is suggested for the selection of a microcomputer network that will identify specific needs and arrive at solutions with maximum flexibility to avoid technological obsolescence. Chapter 1 specifies functional needs for a network design. This chapter discusses the process of evaluating whether a network is appropriate; examines and…

This document demonstrates some of the functions served by the four parts of the AppleWorks program which can be used by school counselors. The four functions include word processor, data base, spread sheet, and mail merge. Each function is described, examples of the function are provided, advantages are listed, and for two examples, the support…

Arguing that complete, reliable, up-to-date system documentation is critical for every data processing environment, this paper on computer disaster recovery planning begins by discussing the importance of such documentation both for recovering from a systems crash, and for system maintenance and enhancement. The various components of system…

Suggestions are offered regarding the use and selection of software with LD (learning disabled) students. The scarcity of appropriate software for the population is pointed out and a hybrid selection scale based upon several existing scales is described. It is noted that the major reason for rejecting software is the high readability skill…

The paper discusses ways in which the Apple II plus and Apple IIe computers can be adapted to become highly effective tools in the education of the physically/multiply handicapped student. The role of word processing programs as communication aids, alternative input and output devices, and innovative software programs is examined. Among the…

These guidelines are revised versions of those originally presented at the spring conference of the Wisconsin Educational Media Association in 1982, as part of a session entitled Cataloging Problem Software. Nine general guidelines are presented and samples are provided for a set of cards which include: main entry, subject added entry, name added…

Discusses computerization of student recordkeeping and the computers and software programs available for different school needs. (MD)