Discusses database searching as a method for developing thinking skills, and describes an activity suitable for fifth grade through high school using a president's and vice president's database. Teaching methods are presented, including student team activities, and worksheets designed for the AppleWorks database are included. (LRW)

California's Vocational and Occupational Information Center for Educators (VOICE), which provides instructors, administrators, and others involved in planning and operating vocational education programs with a variety of resources for improving instruction, is examined. The authors discuss access to this database, computer searches, consultant…

Illustrates the problems inherent in an extreme focus on form and accuracy or meaning and fluency in English-as-a-Second-Language classes. Notes that current language teaching theory views a dual, simultaneous focus as desirable and proceeds to analyze the features of an authentic example of dual focus. (20 references) (Author/CK)

Provides background information and basic options of Didascalia, a computer-assisted language learning center at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) in the domain of language methodology and technology. (CK)

Describes the basic elements of instructional design: (1) assessing needs; (2) defining goals; (3) selecting formats and materials; (4) devising test and evaluation procedures; (5) constructing and teaching a prototype; (6) analyzing and evaluating the results; and (7) revising the instruction and recycling. Demonstrates integration of online…

Reviews a HyperCard stack designed for use in schools and at home. Describes the program as primarily a database of information on Iraq, Kuwait, and the Gulf War. Contends that the program is pedagogically weak and of marginal use in the classroom. (CFR)

Presented is a program where biochemistry students acquire hands-on experience through participation in an on-line computer literature search. The objectives of the program, example printouts, and a list of subtopics, authors, and sources used by students are included. (KR)

Using the Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching (COLT) observation theme, this study compares the second-language-learning environments of elementary-level students of French in four submersion and four immersion classrooms in Montreal, Canada. Results indicate clear differences between the two environments. (Author/VWL)

Highlights multicultural materials that are useful for teaching students of all ages (elementary through college level). These include such CD-ROM products as "The Ellis Island Experience" and "The Civil Rights Movement in the United States" and such World Wide Web-based products as "Diversify Your…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of various external orienting tasks on learning, learner attitudes, and en route behaviors in the use of an educational hypertext system. Thirty-one sophomore students enrolled in three honors sections of an introductory military history course at the United States Air Force Academy served as…

Federal mandates have created a high-pressure climate of testing in today's classrooms, and educators are left to balance these constantly changing demands with lessons that will challenge the academic lives of their students. Technology and the wealth of information it makes available can and should change teaching and learning, but that …

The use of geographic information systems (GIS) in the classroom provides a robust and effective method of teaching the primary spatial skills of identification, description, and explanation of spatial pattern. A major handicap for the development of GIS-based learning experiences, especially for non-GIS specialist educators, is the availability…

The World Wide Web provides a convenient source of databases and examples of survey resources for those who teach research methods. For example, lottery numbers as sources of data, demographic-based search engines, and surveys and their results can be found on the World Wide Web. These can stimulate discussion and lead to student analyses…

Technology, software, and design activities that have been used to create presentations for a class in visual literacy taught to graduate students in the instructional technology program of Northern Illinois University are described. In the past, the language of visuals was introduced through a slide and tape produced for the class. An additional…

This report describes the use of a research-oriented databank on international treaties in undergraduate courses in international law. Following a discussion of the study of treaties, their magnitude, and the political significance of their magnitude, the use of treaties by lawyers and political scientists is contrasted with their value to…