Studied (n=87) elementary cooperating teachers' self-reported familiarity with, availability of, and use of 11 common manipulative devices and their perceptions about factors to consider when using manipulatives to teach mathematics. Found limited use of manipulatives and a pattern of diminishing use through the grades. (20 references) (Author/MKR)

Discusses what usability is and how to test for it. Offers nine suggestions for technical communicators working on usability testing. (SR)

Identifies characteristics of three editions of "Books for College Libraries" (BCL) in relation to literature by women. Fifty authors selected from "The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Tradition in English" are compared to the holdings of BCL, a core bibliography for undergraduate libraries. Five tables provide results. (Author/AEF)

Surveys current work in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and describes how technology can be extended to exploit communication between computers. Reviews applications that might make use of network support (distributed CSCL) and evaluates a sample prototype distributed CSCL application. Highlights value, viability, and development…

Reports on the design, implementation, and evaluation of a teleseminar on instructional design and computer-mediated communication (CMC) at the University of Southern Queensland (Toowoomba, Australia). Results show that CMC was a viable medium for professional development, that moderation of strategies influenced the nature of contributions, and…

Discusses the increase in audience research for public broadcast radio programming and how it influences decisions about programming and fundraising. The evolution of public radio's use of audience research is related to its changing conception of localism. (53 references) (Author/AEF)

Discussion of the use of electronic networking systems by women focuses on a study of their use of the Public Electronic Network (PEN) in Santa Monica (California). Characteristics of PEN that contributed to female adoption are described; gender, political participation, and motivation are examined; and future research is suggested. (46…

Proposes a model for technical journal deselection based on the Bradford law of distribution. The model's operational prescriptives, characteristics of the Bradford distribution in the field of pediatrics, and relevance to collection management are discussed. (42 references) (KRN)

A telephone survey of VCR households examined VCR satisfaction, VCR use, and interpersonal communication about VCRs in relation to home entertainment, displacement, and social utility. Differential patterns were found across all functions as well as support for previous research findings that more satisfied users are heavier users. (nine…

Reports on a survey that examined the reading interests and information needs of older adults in the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) area through a questionnaire administered at selected senior citizen centers. Data are presented on reading habits, topics of interest, methods of obtaining reading materials, preferred sources for information, use of…

Describes a study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that analyzed the transaction logs of medical students' searches of a factual database to determine the overall frequency of search moves, the interaction between the problem statement and students' search strategies, the search moves selected, and the tactics used by students.…

Reports results of a survey of Iowa City residents regarding their awareness of public library services. Data are presented on use of the library for factual information, statistical/numerical information, learning, and information not available at home; awareness of in-person and telephone library reference services; and knowledge about…

Reviews research on impact assessment of libraries and considers potentially useful methodologies for measuring the impact of university libraries, i.e., how library use affects students' academic performance. Topics discussed include categories of library use, purposes of library use, and indicators of library impact. The user panel methodology…

Describes a project that was designed to study the effectiveness and efficiency of editing procedures within an online bibliographic system at a large research university library. A comprehensive statistical overview of editing commands available is presented, frequency of their use is studied, and questions for further research are suggested.…

Describes a study conducted in the Netherlands to provide an understanding of how secondary school teachers actually use computers in the classroom. The use of classroom observations, interviews, and teachers' diaries to determine factors affecting the extent and type of use of computers is explained, and a model of factors is presented. (Contains…