The Registrar at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, reviewed the student records system, a data base structure using IBM's IMS package. Over 13 interviews were conducted to determine use of the system, problems, and suggestions. An estimated $50,000 could be saved annually by adoption of recommendations. (SW)

The concept, focus, operation, and benefits of Florida's data-based, locally directed vocational education evaluation program is described. (BM)

A discussion of some ideas gleaned from ERIC by a professor in Australia and suggestions for use of the system by teachers and schools. Cultural materials, games, techniques used by other teachers, and resumes of journal articles are among the items discussed. (AMH)

The provision of information through videotex in West Germany is described. Information programs and services of the Gesellschaft fur Information und Dokumentation (GID) and its cooperative partners are reviewed to illustrate program contents, a marketing strategy, and the application of gateway technology with mainframe and personal computers.…

The use of a Computing Resource Centre featuring word processing, spreadsheet, and database management activities by a group of talented and gifted students in Maple Ridge, British Columbia resulted in a marked increase in the students' organizational and planning skills and also in the quality of their work. (CB)

Introduces the Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System (CANSIM), one of Canada's first computerized databases consisting entirely of Canadian data. System design, distribution network, services (time series, cross-classified system, summary data system), information retrieval, data presentation, and the graphic displays of Telichart…

Describes how students can improve research work by using an electronic information service. Tells what equipment is necessary, how to subscribe, what services are available, and potential costs. Gives an example of how the service might work. (RKM)

Explains how databases can be used to enrich and complement the science curriculum. Provides examples of applications of databases to science activities and experiments. (ML)

Reports the results of a survey of college students which examined their views on the value of online searching and the relevance of retrieved citations. Survey items, including subject searched, method of instructions, searching experience, database selected, and perceived relevance of citations, were cross-tabulated and examined for…

Presents a relational logical model to support a sophisticated document retrieval system in which flexible forms of inferential and associative searching can be performed, and provides examples of ad hoc inquiries. Several problems of particular importance to document retrieval are discussed in terms of this model. (27 references) (Author/CLB)

Describes the use of several CD-ROM products to provide access to reference sources in a large academic research library. Equipment and staffing problems and solutions, user reaction, and the impact of optical technologies on the library's fee-based searching service and planning for the future are discussed. (3 references) (Author/CLB)

The Reagan Administration rescinded part of a policy aimed at controlling access to unclassified, nongovernment databases. The policy would have extended military-security procedures to civilian government databases, as well as to private ones that contain government information. (MLW)

Describes Information on Demand, an information broker that provides database and manual research on a fee for service basis, and accesses more than a dozen online systems. Relative strengths and weaknesses of particular systems and the criteria used to select databases and online vendors are identified and discussed. (CLB)

Description of the International Nuclear Information System includes its history, organizational structure, subject classification scheme, thesaurus, input standards, and various products and services generated by the system. Appendices provide a list of participating countries, subjects covered by the system, and a sample output record.…

The nature and source of problems in distributing access to student data, the strategies adopted for dealing with them, five successful applications implemented by the Office of the Registrar in cooperation with the Information Center, and lessons learned from these projects are described. (Author/MLW)