Presents results from two computer-based knowledge-mapping studies developed by the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST): in one, middle and high school students constructed group maps while collaborating over a network, and in the second, students constructed individual maps while searching the Web.…

Presents the results of an investigation of the use of links on Web pages; a content analysis was performed on 75 Web pages and their links. Results will provide a conceptual framework in which Web page design can be considered, including issues of authoring, retrieval, and built-in and on-the-fly guidance for reading and browsing. (Author/AEF)

Presents an overview of user-centered design and usability testing. Describes a Web site evaluation project at a university, the iterative process of rapid prototyping and usability testing, and how the findings helped to improve the design. Discusses recommendations for university Web site design and reflects on problems faced in usability…

Reports the results of a Web-based survey that investigated what plans, if any, librarians have for dealing with the expected obsolescence of the floppy disk and still retain effective library service. Highlights include data storage options, including compact disks, zip disks, and networked storage products; and a copy of the Web survey.…

Reports on a case study at an organization that created MADIC, an innovative approach to developing mobile applications developed by third party independent developer. Presents MMO2's, a conceptual wireless reference model used to define the various system constituents required to create effective mobile applications. (Author/AEF)

This paper outlines a detailed research investigation of Web information systems (WIS), such as intranets, extranets, and the World Wide Web, and their capacity to facilitate organizational knowledge work. The objective was to conduct a case study evaluation of WIS usage that examines the information needs and uses of major sets of users and the…

Recently, increasing reliance on Web technology by end-users in organizations has encouraged corporate libraries to provide Web user training. To understand the effects of this new service, a case study was conducted on 17 participants at a large Canadian utility company. After an initial questionnaire, participant usage of the Web was…

This document is a report on the Santa Barbara City College (California) Campus Pipeline, an online portal system that provides a single Web entry point to relevant academic and institutional information for students and faculty. Introduced in spring 2001, the pipeline initially involved 22 courses, 30 sections, and 14 instructors who agreed to…

Usability tests were conducted on different corporate library Web sites, within the same company but based in three different countries, as part of efforts to build a global library portal site for a large high tech company. Results addressed factors influencing the success rates on the Web sites, user perceptions of usability of the sites, and…

Discussion of networked continuing professional development (CPD) for staff in higher education focuses on two case studies: one uses the outcomes of a graduate course to evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-conferencing system; the second uses learning outcomes to influence the redesign of a CPD program to a Web-based open learning system.…

Examines the effectiveness of four Web-based search engines--Alta Visa, infoseek, Lycos, and Open Text--from users' perspectives. Results show that although Lycos has the best relevance ranking performance and highest precision ratio, Alta Vista has the best connectivity, highest user satisfaction ratios for precision and three components of…

This paper outlines a qualitative research investigation of intranets and their capacity to facilitate organizational knowledge work. The study calls for an alternate view to intranet systems development and evaluation, one that tempers a predominant focus on information content and technology concerns with an awareness of the information needs,…

Reports part of a wider study aimed to develop a theoretical understanding of learning in networked courses, where the subject matter is directly related to participants' practical experience. Proposes a taxonomy as a tool for analyzing the learning potential. A phenomenographic perspective on learning underpins the study. (AEF)

Reports on a study that compares the performance of students enrolled in two sections of a Web-based computer networking course: one utilizing a simulation package and the second utilizing a static, graphical software package. Analysis shows statistically significant improvements in performance in the simulation group compared to the…

Provides background on the World Wide Web, reasons for its growth, its potential usefulness to gerontologists, and the results of an exhaustive search of over 300 sites. Relevant information was discovered in five general categories of gerontology-related information: academic institutions, government agencies, biomedical and health research…