Reports on the Online Access to Knowledge (OAK) Project, which developed software to support end user access to a Department of Energy database based on the skill levels and needs of energy researchers. The discussion covers issues in development, evaluation, and the study of user behavior in designing an interface tailored to a special…

Describes research that was conducted to investigate the needs and characteristics of noncomputer professionals who use word processing software on personal computers. A model of the intermittent user's performance is presented, and two experiments are described that examined differences in mode of interaction and the use of online help. (30…

The Fishbein and Ajzen model of attitude-behavior consistency was applied to 56 undergraduates learning to use a microcomputer. Two levels of context for this act were compared: the students' beliefs about themselves, and their beliefs about people in general. The results indicated that students' beliefs were good predictors of their behavioral…

The evolution of a self-contained test scoring terminal is presented. The rationale for the design is presented along with an evolutionary description of the requirements for the system. The sequence of software and hardware tools, which were developed in order to build the device, are also described in this report. The resulting device, which…

Discussion of the social role that computers play in the classroom focuses on an empirical study of human-computer interaction. Classes of high school and undergraduate students are described that were chosen to examine interactivity patterns among students with significantly different social characteristics. (11 references) (LRW)

Describes the mouse and other pointing devices used with microcomputers to facilitate easier user-microcomputer interaction, reviews previous educational applications and research, presents a study comparing the efficiency of the mouse with users of different ages, and discusses the implications for software design. (MBR)

A study was devised, using 20 undergraduate students chosen at random from an introductory psychology course, to measure the teaching effectiveness of two computer tutorials oriented to the spreadsheet portion of Appleworks. The first tutorial provided a data disk with pre-entered data for the user to manipulate, but no error correction…

Outlines an approach to teaching management control activities via the use of case study material, microcomputer technology, and commercially available software. A case study for use by an undergraduate class is described; it includes a single regression analysis, a spreadsheet model, and a description of the man/machine decision process.…

Describes a study of undergraduates that was conducted to determine students' preferences toward Graphical User Interface versus Command Line Interface during computer-assisted instruction. Previous experience, comfort level, performance scores, and student attitudes are examined and compared, and the computer use survey is appended. (Contains 13…

Instructional Design Expert (ID Expert) is a prototype instructional design expert system which supports the instructional design phase of instructional system development. Phase 2 of ID Expert was implemented using S.1 expert system language on the VAX computer. The user interface was text-based, consisting of a question/answer dialogue primarily…

One means by which subordinate leaders in armor units can practice command, control, and communication (C3 skills) before participating in field exercises is with the use of a computer supported battle simulation. This report describes the functional requirements and hardware configuration for Simulation in Combined Arms Training (SIMCAT), a…

Describes study that was carried out at the University of Calgary to determine how elementary school children conceive of computer-related tasks and how this information might be used to generate animated icons for educational software. Child-computer interaction is discussed, and differences in responses between three age groups are examined. (10…

This study explored the effectiveness of "high" user-friendly instructional text editors versus "low" user-friendly editors in teaching word processing to adult females. Whether subjects having higher positive attitudinal scores toward technology would perform better with computerized instructional materials as facilitators for…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of replacing multiple-choice and short-answer questions in programmed tutorial courseware practice interactions with learner-generated summaries on three types of verbal information learning outcomes. The study was designed to empirically investigate the claim that the level of mental processing…

Discusses the design and development of the user-computer interface in terms of the personal computer user's psychological needs and physical, perceptual, and conceptual contact with the system. Principles for the development of a user-system dialog that meets the requirements of transparency and visibility are suggested. Twenty-six references are…