Web-based education and training provides a new paradigm for imparting knowledge; students can access the learning material anytime by operating remotely from any location. Web3D open standards, such as X3D and VRML, support Web-based delivery of Educational Virtual Environments (EVEs). EVEs have a great potential for learning and training…

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)

Discusses "REFLEX," a software package for scheduling. Explores the program's applications in preparing a departmental class schedule. Explains that "REFLEX" includes a filter function and some attributes of a spreadsheet but lacks the ability to interact with other databases. Concludes that the program can make scheduling…

Discusses conceptual constructs that may be useful for inservice teacher education programs evaluating the nature and educational use of instructional software for adult learners. Topics discussed include the increasing use and importance of computers in industry and in education; intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs); and the concept of an ideal…

Outlines evaluation criteria that may be used to determine the usefulness of science education computer software. Factors to be considered are identified as the nature of the investigation, advantages of the program over a laboratory investigation, number and types of higher order thinking skills required, concepts related to inquiry, and the…

Describes a new text analysis approach to automate the indexing process, i.e., an automated keywording system designed to behave as a human expert indexer, and explains the rule base of the approach, which consists of lists of insertion and deletion rules generated by subject matter experts. (32 references) (Author/SD)

Examines how style analyzers operate and offers advice on using textual analysis software in business writing courses. (PRA)