Focuses on four issues related to providing government numeric databases in libraries: hardware, access software, staff skills, and organizing services. Basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of service and a guide for selecting an appropriate level are presented. Examples of screens from actual searches are included. (Contains eight…

Discusses resources and strategies that libraries can use to evaluate competing database management software for purchase. Needs assessments, types of software available, features of good software, evaluation aids, shareware, and marketing and product trends are covered. (KRN)

Discusses important factors to consider before deciding on hardware or software to use in building qualitative databases. Examines using the computer to store and retrieve text, store and retrieve graphics, analyze text, analyze graphic materials, distribute data stored on one machine to others, allow researchers access to data from remote sites,…

Two articles discuss changes that are making technology useful to teachers. After examining computer uses in education, the articles describe new research and educational technology trends, and products and projects that got three teachers hooked on technology. (SM)

Identifies indicators of excellence in educational technology including hardware, software, integration, on-site support, administrative support, conference participation, use of emerging technologies, home and community connections, technology planning, and educational reform. (DB)

Describes the following phases of multimedia courseware production: (1) needs assessment; (2) content and design; (3) rapid prototype; (4) storyboarding; (5) building the course using the production pathway; (6) usability testing; (7) quality assurance and testing. Benefits of Web-based courseware, courseware development team members and roles,…

This study uses a case study of a woman with profound mental retardation and severe cerebral palsy to illustrate uses of speech recognition systems to allow choice making and environmental manipulation that increase her sense of personal control and independence. Guidelines and recommendations for choosing a speech-recognition product and…

Introduces educators to inexpensive, commercially-available CD-ROM software that combines speech, text, graphics, sound, video, animation, and special effects that may be incorporated into classroom activities for both normally developing and language learning disabled children. Discusses three types of multimedia CD-ROM products: (1) virtual…

Explains how software transportation programs help school districts track school-bus routes, fleet status, and other information and how to move a district to such a system. Advice is provided on the criteria for selecting software vendors, matching data and information of new software with systems and procedures already in place, training users,…

Identifies some strategies for supporting young girls in their use of computer technology through appropriate role modeling, thoughtful selection of software, and "gender fair" teaching strategies for classroom practice. Outlines some sources of gender bias in the use of computers by young children. (JPB)

The National Household Education Survey (NHES) CD-ROM for 1991, 1993, and 1995 contains an Electronic Codebook (ECB) program that allows the user to examine the variables in each of the NHES data sets easily and to create Statistical Analysis system and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (for DOS or Windows) that will generate an extract…

As multimedia development software becomes easier to use and more powerful, instructional designers can establish ways of incorporating the Internet into their lessons. This paper introduces some questions that should be considered prior to stepping into that next level of instructional design. Specifically the paper addresses some of the…

A four-year federally funded project created this resource guide and interactive multimedia computer software program that are designed to increase knowledge and skills about assistive technology for people with disabilities. Project ASTECH targets special educators, related service personnel, and others who need to learn about assistive…

The purpose of the project described in this three-part report was to test the value of hypermedia for library instruction. The project included the development of a hypermedia program built around a marketing topic; implementation and testing of the program with one group of students assigned to use the new program; evaluation of the project by…

This report describes a computer-assisted instructional application created on a Macintosh computer using HyperCard software. The instructional program is aimed at those who teach college-level English education courses and those who are planning a course on the use of technology in the English classroom. It is noted that the HyperCard software…