Undergraduate research (UR) is widely promoted by faculty, administrators, institutions of higher learning, government laboratories, private industry, professional associations, and funding agencies as an effective method of training college students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at…

This paper describes Coconuts (Concurrent Collaborative Learning Environment Supported by Awareness), a proposed module of Sharlok (Sharing, Linking and Looking-for Knowledge), an open-ended and collaborative learning environment that integrates a knowledge building tool with a collaborative interface tool. Coconuts was developed in order to…

This curriculum guide is designed to provide students in grades 11-12 with advanced business computer programming background and skills that will transfer through the 2+2+2 to community colleges participating within Texas and later to four-year participating colleges and universities. Introductory pages list procedures for using the guide;…

A distance education course in drug information, scholarly literature evaluation, and biostatistics, offered as part of a doctoral pharmacy program, incorporates teleconferencing and online critiquing of pharmacy journal literature. Structure of the class, software and hardware, student performance, and student response to the teaching methods are…

This paper considers the influence of e-tuition using an asynchronous written conferencing package, "FirstClass," upon retention and success rates for Masters-level courses in a distance learning programme as compared with similar courses that were supported in a traditional manner using face-to-face tuition. The paper investigates the common…

Complex computer and video games may provide a vehicle, based on appropriate theoretical concepts, to transform the educational landscape. Building on the original game object model (GOM) a new more detailed model is developed to support concepts that educational computer games should: be relevant, explorative, emotive, engaging, and include…

Describes the corporate origins, development, and unique features of three World Wide Web search tools. Open Text released LiveLink Search 64 in April 1996. Harvest indexes fewer sites than many competitors but offers powerful searching options. 2ASK is a service that provides links to over 100 Internet indexing tools and rates Web sites and…

Analyzes data from two empirical studies of spelling errors made in online catalog searches. One study used transaction logs to categorize errors, while another gauged student responses to an experimental catalog that detected errors. Recommendations for improving online catalogs to assist users in spelling are discussed. Contains 10 tables and 3…

Presents basic facts and issues about using desktop video communication (DVC) in education. Discusses DVC's virtual "face-to-face" interaction; costs and quality of DVC software; the Internet Protocol (IP) address; types of Internet access; bandwidth; digital cameras; and the need for careful consideration and planning. (AEF)

This study applied evaluation techniques to "Cesar" (a hypermedia learning environment for deaf children based on electronic stories) and "Hyper-Book" (an electronic book based on the paper book metaphor and designed to be part of an electronic library). It also identifies steps that can be used in evaluating electronic books…

Discusses the concept of intelligence and the extent to which it is present in intelligent tutoring systems and intelligent computer-assisted instruction. Topics discussed include courseware evaluation; artificial intelligence; the degree of learner control; knowledge acquisition; fault tolerance; and feedback and self-evaluation. (23 references)…

Eight subjects participated in a comparison of the multipeak (MPEAK) and spectral peak (SPEAK) speech coding strategies of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant system. Overall, speech recognition performance was significantly higher with the SPEAK strategy than with the MPEAK strategy on all speech tests. (Author)

Describes the Virtual Reality and Education Lab (VREL) established at East Carolina University to study the implications of virtual reality for elementary and secondary education. Highlights include virtual reality software evaluation; hardware evaluation; computer-based curriculum objectives which could use virtual reality; and keeping current…

Compares the effectiveness of five grammar/style analysis software packages in analyzing business students' writing. States that the software exhibited differences in correctly identifying mechanical and style errors, avoiding misleading error messages, and providing remedial advice. Warns that no similar empirical tests have been done previously.…

A discussion of computer software evaluation for second-language instruction concludes that it is important to match the purpose of the software with the teacher's goals, have good instructions, receive clear and appropriate feedback, and promote productive interaction with the student. (11 references) (MSE)