Investigated whether program type or content have an effect on middle elementary school children's software preferences and whether gender differences surface when children choose software programs of different type and content. Analysis indicated that children, regardless of gender, preferred a drill and practice mathematics program over the…

Examines the strengths and weaknesses of five selected statistical software packages with respect to how well the software enhances business statistics instructors's ability to teach traditionally difficult topics. Ranks the software on technical and pedagogical benefits. Results indicate (1) no advantage to using textbook-related software over…

Evaluates the suitability of commercially produced historical simulation software for college-level history instruction. Provides a software evaluation template. Sees gains at all levels in constructing sequence structures for teaching cause and effect. Recommends that future designers create simulation exercises dedicated to the methodological…

Describes software that was designed in the United Kingdom to promote conceptual change in secondary school students studying mechanics. Direct Manipulation of Mechanical Microworlds, an interactive computer simulation, and VARILAB, a computer-based language for modelling systems, are explained; and two studies that will evaluate the effectiveness…

Presents a lexical computer-assisted-language-learning tool for Japanese that is designed to develop vocabulary, "kanji," and verb conjugation knowledge. (Author/JL)

Describes and evaluates the design and development of an interactive multimedia simulation package for management education called Business Simulation which combines the concepts of case study methods with business simulation games. It is designed to provide students with skills-based training in human resources management, particularly…

Despite a rise in the use of handheld computers in classrooms, meaningful learning with personal digital assistant (PDA) technology remains poorly studied. This article reports results from an evaluation of customized handheld data collection software, the BioKIDS Sequence, which was used during an 8-week biodiversity curriculum unit by 5th and…

This report examines three text-based conferencing products: "WowBB", "Invision Power Board", and "vBulletin". Their selection was prompted by a feature-by-feature comparison of the same products on the "WowBB" website. The comparison chart painted a misleading impression of "WowBB's" features in relation to the other two products; so the…

The classroom teacher's comfort and familiarity with computers and software influences student-computer use in the classroom. Teachers remain mired in repetitive introduction of basic software mechanics and rarely progress with students to advanced concepts or complex applications. An Online Assistant (OLA) was developed to accompany the…

Examines the effectiveness of grammar checking computer software in the journalism classroom. Finds that grammar checkers, in their current stage of development, may detract from learning rather than enhance it because of numerous errors in students' writing that went undetected. (RS)

The updated HyperCard is reviewed, and instructions are given for "unmasking" the full program. It is concluded that the improvements are powerful and give the program the potential to be a useful tool for educators who need to customize or create their own applications. (six references) (LB)

"Power Tools--Design and Application" (Furtaw) looks at differences between professional and ordinary consumer tools. "Low Budget Laser Printing Solutions" (Dose) gives graphic arts instructors tips on purchasing equipment for high quality output. (SK)

An electronic performance support system (EPSS) was tested by 14 instructional designers, compared with 12 controls working with traditional methods. The EPSS group produced a significantly better end product, but the control group scored significantly higher on a knowledge test. (SK)

Provides a step-by-step approach to test the Y2K readiness of computers. Gives advice on what actions to take if an organization's computer systems fail the test. (GR)

Provides reviews of four distance learning software products: (1) LearningSpace, (2) LearnLinc I-Net, (3) LOIS (Learning Organization Information System), and (4) Symposium. Includes a comparison of the features of each of them. (JOW)