With test scores dipping, dropout rates spiking, and disciplinary problems multiplying, student motivation was in short supply at Hope High School in East Providence, Rhode Island, when, in 2002, the state commissioner of education stepped in to stop the slide. After months of planning, the state reorganized the school into three smaller,…

This article discusses University of Central Florida's proactive approach to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and highlights UCF's success with ERP. The article points out that much of this success comes from the strength and management experience of those in leadership positions at UCF, and from the expertise and strong credentials of the team…

In 2001, Indiana officials at the Department of Education were taking stock. The schools had an excellent network infrastructure and had installed significant numbers of computers for 1 million public school enrollees. Yet students were spending less than an hour a week on the computer. It was then that state officials knew each student needed a…

This paper reports findings from a follow-up evaluation of a short inservice course designed to enable teachers to assess and teach pupils with PMLD more effectively by combining the use of custom built ICT hardware and software (the Declan materials) and cognitive developmental psychology. The Declan materials were introduced to teachers at a…

What would technological librarians like to see in the next generation of Integrated Library Systems (ILS)? This question was asked of several well- known library technology experts, and their responses are presented in this article. Survey respondents expressed a clear desire for the following features and functionality: (1) Direct, read-only…

This article describes The Onion Router (TOR). It is a freely available, open-source program developed by the U.S. Navy about a decade ago. A browser plug-in, it thwarts online traffic analysis and related forms of Internet surveillance by sending your data packets through different routers around the world. As each packet moves from one router to…

Describes the range of products and services offered by VTLS, a company that offers comprehensive, integrated library automation software and customer support. VTLS's growth and development in the United States and abroad is described, and nine sidebar articles detail system features and applications in public, academic, and virtual libraries. (20…

Examines the decision-making process of purchasing CD-ROMs for libraries. Evaluation criteria include hardware requirements, ease of installation, adequacy of documentation, user friendliness of displays, ease of searching, frequency of updates, downloading and printing capabilities, technical support, and vendor reputation. Identifies sources and…

Discussion of the automation of personnel administration in libraries covers (1) new developments in human resource management systems; (2) system requirements; (3) software evaluation; (4) vendor evaluation; (5) selection of a system; (6) training and support; and (7) benefits. (MES)

Provides an overview of the 10th annual Headway ImagingIT exhibition. Describes new document management products, discusses case studies of large users of document management systems, and technology seminars on trends in document imaging and management systems, Intranets, optical storage, and developments in document imaging hardware and software.…

An overview of responses from a number of higher education associations (ACE, EDUCOM and NASULGC, and Cornell University) to the controversial issues that have arisen from the 1988 Internet "worm" are presented. Preliminary results from a CAUSE survey of higher education institutions are discussed. (Author/MLW)

The model for hypermedia applications called Labyrinth allows: (1) the design of platform-independent hypermedia applications; (2) the categorization, generalization and abstraction of sparse unstructured heterogeneous information in multiple and interconnected levels; (3) the creation of personal views in multiuser hyperdocuments for both groups…

Describes interconnection methods, speed, and comparative equipment costs of networking starter kits. These kits supply network-connection devices that plug into or connect to each computer that is part of a network; they may also provide interconnection cables and installation software needed to set up a network. Reviews 20 kits that use a…

Examines the information infrastructure and the impact of information technology in India. Highlights include attempts toward automation; library networking at the national and local level; descriptions of four major networks; library software; and constraints of networking in academic libraries. (LRW)

Examines four aspects of administrative software systems implementation that college and university administrators need to understand to avoid implementation pitfalls. These include: (1) system complexity, (2) dangers of customization, (3) documentation, and (4) real costs. (DB)