An intelligent advisor computer program designed to assist undergraduate computer science students in producing an entity-relationship diagram, a conceptual model of a database. The advisor helps students perform modeling exercises and monitors student performance. (MSE)

To avoid long strings of browser addresses, a Florida multimedia instructor learned to create his own Web pages and jump pages (links to other sites). This article explains how he arranged for a Web server, assembled source materials, and adapted features of PageMill, a page-authoring software. (MLH)

Discusses the time and expense required to create interactive multimedia courses, and describes the Synergy project that combines a performance support system with authoring systems to accelerate the design and development process. Examples of screen displays are included. (Author/LRW)

Discusses multimedia authoring systems based on an analysis of multimedia computer-assisted instruction (CAI) courseware and its development. Topics include the function design of authoring systems; building a model of a multimedia CAI authoring system; and production techniques of the authoring system, including hypermedia. (LRW)

Most libraries don't have the resources to cross-platform and cross-version test all of their JavaScript coding. Many turn to WYSIWYG; however, WYSIWYG editors don't generally produce optimized coding. Web developers should: test their coding on at least one 3.0 browser, code by hand using tools to help speed that process up, and include a simple…

Examines Internet security risks and how users can protect themselves. Discusses inadvertent bugs in software; programming problems with Common Gateway Interface (CGI); viruses; tracking of Web users; and preventing access to selected Web pages and filtering software. A glossary of Internet security-related terms is included. (AEF)

Reports that student computer programmers from Russian universities, despite outdated equipment, poor facilities, and meager salaries, recently dominated the International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals with the team from St. Petersburg State University winning first place. Western companies are developing arrangements with Russian…

Discussion of the need for training in new information technologies focuses on the development of a distance education model for training teachers in computer literacy. Explains individual and collaborative learning support and the authoring module, and presents the results of preliminary evaluations. (LRW)

In introductory computer science courses, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is commonly used to teach basic object-oriented design. However, there appears to be a lack of suitable software to support this task. Many of the available programs that support UML focus on developing code and not on enhancing learning. Programs designed for…

Learner centred design methods highlight the importance of involving the stakeholders of the learning process (learners, teachers, educational researchers) at all stages of the design of educational applications and of refining the design through an iterative prototyping process. These methods have been used successfully when designing systems…

In the current teaching activities on curriculum, teachers taught all kinds of computer language at the most of the time. Students also focus on a variety of examinations, but the real time to train students' independent software developing skill is very limited. This has resulted in the students only to copy other people's systems design ideas,…

This paper discusses the implementation of a new e-learning environment that supports non-rote learning of exploratory and inductive statistics within the pedagogical paradigm of social constructivism. The e-learning system is based on a new computational framework that allows us to create an electronic research environment where students are…

While the importance of "expressive writing," or informal, self-directed writing, has been well established, teachers underutilize it, particularly in technical writing courses. We introduce the term expressive/exploratory technical writing (XTW), which is the use of informal, self-directed writing to problem-solve in technical fields. We describe…

Mathematical knowledge can be categorized in different ways. One commonly used way is to distinguish between procedural mathematical knowledge and conceptual mathematical knowledge. Procedural knowledge of mathematics refers to formal language, symbols, algorithms, and rules. Conceptual knowledge is essential for meaningful understanding of…

Ethnic music is a strong indicator of cultural identity. Central and Eastern European ethnic groups have historically been associated with folk music traditions, such as polka, and radio broadcasting patterns in the United States reflect continued demand for and support of this music. Data from the 2000 Census was used to generate maps of the…