Describes survey of public school administrators in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which was conducted to determine how their perceptions of computer training needs vary across administrative categories. The needs assessment questionnaire is described, ranking of computer competencies is discussed, and implications for educational planners for…

Describes study of undergraduates conducted to test the effectiveness of illustrations in texts, based on two hypotheses concerned with the differences between analogical and literal illustrations in serving two specific instructional functions and ways in which male and female students utilize illustrations. Results are analyzed, and…

Defines cognitive computer tools as software programs that use the control capabilities of computers to amplify, extend, or enhance human cognition; suggests seven ways in which computers can aid learning; and describes the "Learning Tool," a software package for the Apple Macintosh microcomputer that is designed to aid learning of…

Presents results of a survey of British secondary school students which was conducted to obtain information about microcomputer use both in school and at home. Highlights include gender differences, students' attitudes toward computers, experience with computers, assessment of programming ability, and characteristics of competent programmers. (LRW)

Describes a survey of electrical engineering education departments at 147 universities to find out if the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) were used in the admissions process and under what conditions. Tabulates the data according to GRE requirements. Discusses the purposes of requiring the GRE in admissions. (CW)

Two Wisconsin public library systems conducted a planning process for library services to special needs users during 1985-86. The needs assessment process used and the results obtained are described in detail and the two approaches used are compared. (One library collected more qualitative data and the other more quantitative data.) (EM)

The correlates of average departmental annual research journal publication rates of faculty were examined in three disciplines: chemistry, history, and psychology. Variables studied included factual information about each department, faculty perceptions and ratings, and graduate students' perceptions and ratings. (Author/MLW)

The attempt to integrate school curricula with social concerns is a recurring motif in North American education. Impediments to integration can be reduced by incorporating a cognitive approach to social issues analysis. The approach was tested with 4seven9 grade 7-10 students in two Ontario, Canada, school systems with positive results. (MM)

The DAPPOR software, a drill and practice program for learning the command languages of major vendors of bibliographic databases, was tested in a classroom environment at two library schools. Statistically significant positive learning differences were observed with DAPPOR use, particularly with the DIALOG language. (21 references) (Author/EJS)

This study was conducted to determine whether students would use a computer-presented organizational/memory tool as an aid in problem solving, and whether and how locus of control would affect tool use and problem-solving performance. Learners did use the tools, which were most effective in the learner control with feedback condition. (MBR)

Study designed to determine which version of a game developed in strict compliance with competing models of incentive and dissonance would be more effective in producing attitude change found that results were similar in the experimental groups. Similarity is attributed to sense of identification with simulation characters reported by subjects.…

Presents a performance analysis of Egyptian National Scientific and Technical Information Network's retrospective database search service. Statistics regarding service demand, trends, characteristics of searches, search results, U.S. database usage, service turn-around time, and costs are tabulated to profile the evolution and performance of a…

Describes a Memphis State University program in which faculty and staff are given inservice training in personal computing. Course subject matter content is outlined and results of a survey of the course's first participants are discussed, including most and least valuable seminar factors, and uses made of what was learned. (Author/MBR)

Describes survey of 500 academic business libraries undertaken to gather information on practices in acquisition, use, retention, and storage of domestic and foreign corporate annual reports, and policies related to their circulation and cataloging. Options for libraries collecting these materials are proposed. Institutions in subset are listed.…

The initial effort in applying the SAT-M to young Chinese students revealed that many of them reason extraordinarily well mathematically before age 13 and before having covered the bulk of the high-school mathematics curriculum. The conclusion seems to be that they must have keen analytical ability. (MLW)