Offers guidelines for reviewing and evaluating English language arts software. Includes advice on using the guidelines. (RS)

Increases in the availability of technology, the range of content software, and curriculum via the Internet have placed countless options in the hands of teachers. Similarly, increasing accountability has placed added pressure on teachers to meet stated objectives and ensure student performance. How can teachers optimize available technologies and…

This report summarizes the problems schools are encountering as they try to use data to gauge the effectiveness of standards-based education, accountability efforts, and school reform. It provides an overview of the education market, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of available software, and describes systems used by 19 states. The article…

This digest provides practical advice on evaluating software for managing student records. An evaluation of record-keeping software should start with a process to identify all of the individual needs the software produce must meet in order to be considered for purchase. The first step toward establishing an administrative computing system is…

This annual guide provides information on recommended software programs and multimedia applications for K-12 use. An introductory section describes the evaluation process and lists the highest-rated programs for 1998-99. The program entries are organized by the following subject areas: the arts, early childhood, health, language arts, mathematics,…

Discusses the use of electronic portfolios by school library media specialists for professional development as a resume, an evaluation instrument, or other types of credential documentation. Includes guidelines for building a successful portfolio, including appropriate software selection; audience considerations; and technology skill…

Explains how the Arlington Independent School District (Texas) complied with the mandates of the Local Government Records Act. Topics include evaluation and needs, software selection, inventory and retention schedules, managing forms and records, standardized identification systems, finding specific records, costs and destroying obsolete records.…

Discusses ways to select and evaluate CD-ROM programs. Various evaluation and review sources are described, results of recent evaluations are related, curriculum ideas for using interactive electronic books in elementary school classes are suggested, sources for CD-ROM classroom activities are provided, and an example of a network CD-ROM exercise…