Reviews five computer software programs for students 3 to 14 years old: (1) The Graph Club (Tom Snyder Productions); (2) Kid Cad (Davidson Associates); (3) Kid Keys (Davidson Associates); (4) Math Ace (Magic Quest); and (5) Busytown (Computer Curriculum Corporation). Prices, supplier addresses, and hardware requirements are provided. (MDM)

This article offers guidelines for evaluating and selecting appropriate software for use with gifted children and examines the advantages and limitations of computer-assisted instruction with this population. (DB)

Discusses the challenge of teachers having limited instruction with choosing appropriate software packages for classroom instruction. Discusses generating a review form that can guide teachers in the selection of educational software. Presents a list of criteria for evaluating software. (SC)

This article discusses the use of IEP software applications from the perspectives of form (i.e., legally correct documents) and function (i.e., educationally appropriate individualized programs). The article provides an overview of the basic components of two fairly comprehensive IEP software programs and discusses the general strengths and…

The structures within which software evaluation is carried out vary widely. Three broad types of evaluation methodologies offer models that capitalize on important aspects of evaluation: (1) product review; (2) checklist procedure; and (3) user observation. Structures and methodologies for software evaluation have evolved together and have…

Compares and evaluates three CD-ROM products for the ERIC database: (1) DIALOG OnDISC; (2) OCLC's Search CD450; and (3) SilverPlatter. The focus is on search capabilities and features. (1 reference) (MES)

Provides a tabular listing of alumni-development software produced or sold by 56 companies. Each listing includes the vendor name, address, contact name, telephone number, electronic mail address, World Wide Web site, software name, price range, system requirements, standard reports, reporting tools, number of installed sites, and client type.…

Provides an overview of digital video and outlines hardware and software necessary for interactive training on the World Wide Web and for videoconferences via the Internet. Lists sites providing additional information on digital video, on CU-SeeMe software, and on MBONE (Multicast BackBONE), a technology that permits real-time transmission of…

Describes the Nebraska Library Commission's experiences with modem sharing on their local area network (LAN). Asynchronous communications servers (ACSs) are described, selecting software for an ACS is discussed, pricing and compatibility is considered, and two sidebars list network-compatible terminal software and companies that provide ACS…

Discusses how to choose the medium or media to communicate technical information, how to combine and integrate media, and what the user can use. (SR)

Notes that many companies want to reduce paper documentation necessary to support their products. Maintains that, if technical communicators are to avoid being downsized out of a job, they must build on their existing communication skills and move toward product design, helping to produce products so obvious that they need no manuals. (SR)

When the Smithsonian Institution recently acquired a new financial management system, the concept of prototyping was used throughout the process, but in a broader sense than in software development. It was used to refine requirements, establish software management techniques, test a logistical system, and implement and apply the package. (MSE)

Presents criteria teachers can use when evaluating software designed to teach grammar to students of Italian-as-a-Second-Language. The importance of collaboration between programmers and academic experts is stressed in creating software and the need for teachers to choose software as carefully as they select textbooks. (CFM)

Reviews existing work on establishing value of technical documentation to determine its principles. States that value can be returned by reducing internal investment, increasing sales, and reducing after-sales costs. Argues that further research will improve the understanding of information as the product itself, rather than simply a supporting…

Discussion of effective search aids for legal researchers on the World Wide Web focuses on the design and evaluation of two software systems developed to explore models for browsing and searching across a user-selected set of Web sites. Describes crawler-enhanced search engines, filters, distributed full-text searching, and natural language…