Provides a summary of a series of research and development projects which investigated the reasons for failure in educational technology-based systems of instruction. Develops a new approach to the design of such systems and their subsequent implementation and control. A 17-item bibliography is included. (Author/CHC)

Surveys four possible types of multimedia computer systems: hypermedia, multimedia database, multimedia message, and virtual reality systems. The potential use of multimedia computer systems as public access systems in libraries is discussed, including fiscal, legal, organizational, standardization, and technological challenges that would have to…

Eleven articles introduce expert systems applications in library and information science, and present design and implementation issues of system development for reference services. Topics covered include knowledge based systems, prototype development, the use of artificial intelligence to remedy current system inadequacies, and an expert system to…

Discussion of the state of the art in computer-assisted school administration (CASA) is based on preceding articles in this issue describing administrative computing in Australia, England, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, The Netherlands, and the United States. Highlights include findings of the country-specific articles, elements of the school…

This paper is intended to provide the instructional technologist already possessing some understanding of expert systems with some insight into two of the many steps involved in the design and production of such systems: knowledge acquisition and knowledge structuring or representation. It is also intended to help technologists to see how they…

Part of the Communications Design Center's (CDC) on-going research on communication and document design, this report emphasizes the importance of a multi-level computer help system that goes beyond simple command descriptions to include assistance with goals and strategies within the application domain--in this case, automated authoring. The help…

Reviews the background, concepts, and role of hypermedia systems and analyzes essential, expected, and desirable features of hypermedia in order to provide a basis for system design and evaluation. Four hypermedium shells and systems are described, and approaches to user interface problems are discussed. (48 references) (MES)

Information available so far indicates that children in managed care arrangements are less likely to be seen by pediatric specialists and that families and providers are less satisfied under managed care. In spite of these drawbacks, the managed care approach, modified appropriately, offers new opportunities to provide high-quality medical care…

The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) is the most comprehensive reform legislation nationally, bringing substantial change to all levels of the educational system. A group of researchers who have spent time in schools in Kentucky and policy analysts knowledgeable about Kentucky and other state education reform efforts convened in October 1992…

Presents detailed guidelines based on the literature for screen layout and design of online catalogs, and discusses the potential advantages in terms of number of transactions per hour and user satisfaction. Further research questions are suggested and an extensive bibliography is provided. (CLB)

The paper reviews literature on communication augmentation for individuals with severe/profound intellectual disabilities, within the framework of the "Participation Model." The discussion covers communication opportunity, communication access, strategies for facilitating the use of natural speech, overview of unaided and aided…

Discusses the inappropriate and inefficient uses of new technologies in education, recent trends creating a pressure for educational change, and barriers preventing such change. Provides specifications for a new technologically enhanced learning system allowing individualized instruction and evaluation, curriculum network development, and…

The PRODIGY/EBL system [Minton88] was one of the first works to directly attack the problem of strategy utility. The problem of finding effective strategies was reduced to the problem of finding effective rules. However, this paper illustrates limitations of the approach. There are two basic difficulties. The first arises from the fact that the…

Presents the roles of the federal government, business, professional organizations, state and local governments and the "information entrepreneur" in advancing the state-of-the-art in social service systems applications. Federal government will continue to act as catalyst for systems development but information entrepreneurs and others will play…

This review considers studies of large-scale systemic reform initiatives aimed at mathematics and science education, especially those undertaken by state governments and the National Science Foundation. The implementation and effects of reforms can be understood in theoretical terms applied to the study of innovation and change. (SLD)