Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to model the relationship between student performance, student attitudes, and computer laboratory environments. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 234 college students enrolled in courses that involved the use of a computer to solve problems and provided the laboratory experience by means of…

This case study describes the use of a synchronous communication application (MSN Messenger) in a large academic computing environment. It draws on data from interviews, questionnaires and student marks to examine the link between use of the application and success measured through module marks. The relationship is not simple. Total abstainers and…

Notes that economic and service factors may dictate that special fire protection measures be given to computer rooms. The discussion covers emergency planning, various types of fire detection and suppression systems, and future options, with particular attention to halon and possible halon replacements. A list of suggested readings is provided.…

This article describes the language patterns of eight preschool students in a computer environment. Videotaped interactions at the computer center were analyzed to examine the nature of the verbal interaction that took place among peers. Using Halliday's functional framework, the authors found that regulatory was the most popular language pattern,…

Increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) help individuals to solve several everyday problems, which used to be harder, more complicated and time consuming. Even though ICTs provide individuals with many advantages, they might also serve as grounds for several societal and ethical problems which vary in accordance with…

The threat of computer sabotage is a real concern to business teachers and others responsible for academic computer facilities. Teachers can minimize the possibility. Eight suggestions for avoiding computer viruses are given. (JOW)

This paper is based on a year-long ethnography of a K-1 class. I report on the way gender was a significant implicit feature of interpreting kids' everyday classroom activities, like why boys tended to go to the computer center and girls did not. In addition to explicating the gendered interpretations, the paper also discusses the way teachers…

Focuses on the use of cultural analysis, or the ethnographic approach, as a qualitative research methodology to study an academic computing center. The study was conducted to understand the culture of computing professionals and to assist librarians in developing ways in which the two groups of professionals can work together. (Author/LRW)

Describes how Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools formed the Computer Access to Neighborhoods (CAN) Partnership, a joint public/private community venture to establish computer access centers for students and their families in 5 public library branches and 35 neighborhood sites. (PKP)

The study determined how students assess the various components of their science laboratory environment. It also identified how the laboratory environment affects students' learning outcomes. The modified ex-post facto design was used. A sample of 328 randomly selected students was taken from a population of all Senior Secondary School chemistry…

This paper describes how Eastern Illinois University (EIU) has approached the problem of training faculty to use and support its computer network by creating a new faculty committee called the Computer Resource Faculty (CRF). The Educational Computing Network (ECN) at EIU currently provides e-mail, bulletin boards, BITNET connections, simulation…

Although current theory about the effective use of instructional technology argues for the distribution of small groups of computers in individual classrooms, computer labs still offer benefits. Discusses the drawbacks of the distributed model and describes Palmer Elementary School's (Missouri City, Texas) technology plan which incorporates both…

Richardson (Texas) Independent School District's Technology Center uses computer workstations in a local area network to support its technology education program. The curriculum features communications, electronics, manufacturing, and technology systems; manufacturing and construction graphics; and research and development in technology. (SK)

Describes a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis Approach for the selection of personal computers that combines the capabilities of Analytic Hierarchy Process and Integer Goal Programing. An example of how decision makers can use this approach to determine what kind of personal computers and how many of each type to purchase is given. (nine…

The relationship of the academic library with the campus computing center has been an issue since at least the late 1970s. The issue was discussed at length in the 1980s with little effect on existing organizations. Interest in the issue was rekindled in the 1990s, when a number of institutions merged or aligned the library and the computer…