This bibliography on users' machine-assisted information seeking behavior was compiled by the American Library Association's Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS). Includes adoption of technology; digital library services; hypertext; interface design; models and theory; relevance; resource…

This annual report of the National Council on Disability (NCD) describes major activities and accomplishments during fiscal year 1996 in its role of advising the President and Congress on issues concerning people with disabilities. The NCD conducted the first-ever National Summit on Disability Policy which gathered 300 people to develop more than…

Within an electronic education market, an electronic education mall is defined as a virtual service center to support various transaction processes by providing a technological platform with appropriate value-added services and interfaces for suppliers and customers. In this context, an education broker service is of central importance, because…

This paper describes a solution to the user identification and tracking problem within an educational World Wide Web environment. The paper begins with an overview of the Teaching Support System project at the University of Girona (Spain); the main objective of the project is to create an integrated set of tools for teachers to use to create and…

This paper presents a generalized solution to the problems that people with disabilities face regarding accessing the Internet. Of particular interest is the way in which the authors' paradigm allows for enhanced interaction with information resources, including distance learning and education in general. A basic overview is provided of the…

Most of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) design methods focus on producing content for a VLE. However, usability of the VLE is also of great importance. Several potential usability problems have been reported in recent e-learning conferences. These problems could have been avoided by applying usability engineering methods before the VLE was…

Reviews "Vernier Software: Precision Timer II" for high school through college mechanics. Introduces 14 different modes including pulse time, pendulum timer, bouncer timer, gate timer, collision timers, and stroke calibration. Provides two typical displays and ratings of the software. (YP)

The amount, range, and quality of information available to students and other academic users have increased enormously in recent years. Consequently, it is possible for individuals to either suffer from information overload or to get lost in cyberspace while trying to locate relevant information. This paper looks at the relevance of cognitive…

This descriptive study investigates the uses of SMART Board, an interactive electronic whiteboard, in secondary school foreign language classes. The paper first discusses how SMART Board can facilitate the teaching process. SMART Board supports the foreign language teaching process in three main ways: it helps the presentation of new linguistic…

Describes a study that observed undergraduates as they searched bibliographic databases on a CD-ROM local area network. Topics include related research, information needs, evolution of search topics, database selection, search strategies, relevance judgments, CD-ROM interfaces, and library instruction. (Author/LRW)

Describes a Skill Development Module fostering students' scientific reasoning skills within a school science laboratory. Summarizes the module activities in combination with computerized and non-computerized activities for a 16-week period. Discusses the classroom evaluation of the module. (YP)

Identifies sources of technological stress for public services librarians and patrons and proposes ways to reduce stress, including communicating with staff, implementing a system gradually, providing adequate training, creating proper documentation, planning, considering ergonomics in hardware and software selection, selecting a good interface,…

Describes efforts by academic libraries in Virginia to increase resource sharing through new technological developments. Highlights include cooperative collection development; software designed for resource sharing; regional electronic resources centers; workstations; interfaces to connect online catalogs; patron-initiated interlibrary loans; and…

Libraries should seek to serve the disabled by accommodating special needs in physical and intellectual access to the Internet. Some possible enhancements include (1) screen magnifiers; (2) voice interfaces; (3) braille displays; (4) alternative keyboard options; (5) spacious and adjustable workstation areas; (6) provision of remote access; and…

Hypermedia has long been considered to have great potential to support educational tasks and applications. Many success stories of hypermedia support in education have been reported. Much of this work has been done in the context of traditional closed hypermedia systems rather than more contemporary open hypermedia systems. Developing hypermedia…