PLUS, an authoring system designed to develop cross-platform courseware for different computer types, was evaluated for its portability (ability to run on multiple platforms without adjustment). The procedures and computer equipment used are described, and results are presented. It is concluded that PLUS produces highly portable programs. (MSE)

Discusses quality assurance for Web-based courses, based on experiences at the University of Pretoria. Topics include evaluation of courseware; the concept of quality, including quality control, quality assurance, and total quality management; implementing a quality management system; measurement techniques; and partnerships. (LRW)

Discusses how children's descriptions and evaluations of computer software are important ways to learn about how computers can be used in the learning process; describes how these evaluations can be an informal way of "child-testing" educational software. Offers examples of children's comments and suggests three Web sites that feature children's…

Reviews the Earobics program, an auditory development and phonics software program designed to provide auditory processing and phonemic awareness training. The conceptual framework motivating the software development is assessed though an analysis of the six games of the program. Strengths and limitations of the program are discussed. (CR)

Discusses use of Vygotsky's zone of proximal development as a theoretical construct for designing Ecolab educational software. Describes an evaluation of the software with elementary school students, noting the usefulness of the ZPD construct despite students' inability to set up challenging tasks and seek appropriate assistance. Considers issues…

This article discusses how professionals can integrate computer technology into early childhood classrooms. Strategies are provided for using computers to facilitate learning, selecting developmentally appropriate software, setting up a computer center, and integrating computer technology across the curriculum. A chart pairs level of interactivity…

The proliferation of computer software for young children necessitates that early childhood teachers have the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and select developmentally appropriate software. This article describes the manner in which one university prepares early childhood teacher candidates to analyze software for the young children in…

This paper discusses the use of online learning communities for library professional organizations to promote collaboration and learning. The addition of an online learning community component to a library organization expands collaborative and educational opportunities for members through a virtual environment. Although technologies used to…

We present COLLECT-UML, a constraint-based intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that teaches object-oriented analysis and design using Unified Modelling Language (UML). UML is easily the most popular object-oriented modelling technology in current practice. While teaching how to design UML class diagrams, COLLECT-UML also provides feedback on…

The importance and attention given to information systems are relatively new phenomena in the history of higher education. This chapter documents the ascendancy of information systems in the scheme of institutional priorities and considers the strengths and weaknesses associated with vended and homegrown systems.

The objects-first strategy to teaching programming has prevailed over the imperative-first and functional-first strategies during the last decade. However, the objects-first strategy has created added difficulties to both the teaching and learning of programming. In an attempt to confront these difficulties and support the objects-first strategy…

This paper describes an empirical study of fun, usability, and learning in educational software. Twenty five children aged 7 and 8 from an English primary school participated. The study involved three software products that were designed to prepare children for government initiated science tests. Pre and post tests were used to measure the…

To investigate whether and how commercial software products for literature do or could complement response-based pedagogy, an extensive review of existing applications was undertaken. Teams of language arts teachers, both preservice and inservice, met weekly to initially discuss and share observations regarding the potential of multimedia to…

This catalog lists the holdings of the Software To Go software lending library and clearinghouse for programs and agencies serving students or clients who are deaf or hard of hearing. An introduction describes the clearinghouse and its collection of software, much of it commercial and copyrighted material, for Apple, Macintosh, and IBM (MS-DOS)…

Two years ago the University of Tampa acquired the "BASIC SKILLS" software program developed by Computer Systems Research to help underprepared students bring their reading, writing, and mathematical skills up to college levels. Two studies were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the software and to establish the most effective…