The Education Writers Association report "Wolves at the Schoolhouse Door" examines the poor condition of public school buildings. The report, utilizing data from all the states and from personal contacts and interviews, presents statistics on enrollment, maintenance budgets, safety, financing, lack of data, and potential solutions. (MLF)

Discusses the use of computers in the classroom, suggests visions of an educational future, and describes a project developed at the University of Maryland to examine the effects of computers on the college-level physics curriculum. Topics discussed include microcomputer-based laboratories, increased modeling power, and access to large databases.…

Discusses the implementation of a software system that allows teachers to take advantage of large banks of questions in subject areas. Explains that this plan is the result of a 1981 court mandate to standardize learning outcomes. Follows the development of the system and choosing of the software. (MVL)

Discusses four applications of the microcomputer to the classroom: (1) a program listing of how to draw circles on the Apple II computers; (2) using a database to help write stories; (3) switching computers with others while writing stories to encourage creativity; and (4) a listing of a LOGO kaleidoscope program. (MVL)

Asserts that policymakers and the general public should be well informed about economic and social issues. Contends that a statistical system in a democracy has a heavy responsibility to ensure that the data represent fact, not opinion. Discusses changes made in the Consumer Price Index to prevent it from becoming politicized. (CFR)

Describes the Music in Education (MIE) laboratory, an interactive, computer-assisted general music education package manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation. Discusses the lesson modules, workstations, and electronic quizzes and feedback. Compares the benefits of computer-managed instruction to traditional music instruction, including creating a…

Describes a system of resource sharing based on dial-up access to CD-ROM databases that was developed by a group of rural public and school libraries in Washington that includes document delivery, involves no network, and is inexpensive. Highlights include computer selection; database selection; licensing fees; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Contends that significant shifts in theories about curriculum development and teaching methods are presenting dramatic challenges to traditional thinking about teaching social studies. Discusses the Internet and provides illustrations of using online systems in social studies. (CFR)

Discussion of choosing database access to satisfy users and budgetary constraints highlights a method to make educated estimates of simultaneous usage levels. Topics include pricing; advances in networks and CD-ROM technology; and two networking scenarios, one in an academic library and one in a corporate research facility. (LRW)

Examines uses of standardized general markup language (SGML) in digital libraries to enhance full-text searching and retrieval of documents, improve end-user accessibility to documents, and allow electronic transmittal of documents. Discusses the history and characteristics of SGML, authoring and acquiring SGML materials, searching and retrieving…

Describes a study that investigated search intermediaries' requests for information from patrons during mediated online searching in an academic library. Topics of search intermediaries' elicitations include search terms and strategies, database selection, relevance of retrieved items, patrons' knowledge and previous information seeking, and other…

Contends that computer-aided literature studies have failed to impact the field as a whole. Asserts that new databases, such as TLG or ARTFL, allow wide-spectrum analyses that may transform the way in which literature is studied. (CFR)

Addresses issues related to implementing and teaching Mead Data Central's (MDC) Lexis and Nexis services in an undergraduate academic library. Topics include telecommunications, access, and equipment; printing; collection development; instructional issues, including staff training; structure of the database; publications and instructional…

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Library and the American Physical Society (APS) are experimenting with electronically disseminating journals and reports in a project called TORPEDO (The Optical Retrieval Project: Electronic Documents Online). Scanned journals and reports are converted to ASCII, then attached to bibliographic information, and…

Various approaches to training for online users are described, including training that is available through schools of library and information studies, database producers, consultants, professional associations, and employers. Training methods are discussed, and the trend toward the use of computer-assisted instruction is examined. (55 references)…