Presents strategic planning designed to help academic institutions. Describes five key elements: situation analysis; mission statement; objectives; creating strategies; and tactics. Discusses the implementation, benefits, and side-effects of strategic planning. (YP)

Reviews and summarizes "Things That Make Us Smart," a book by Donald Norman that defends human attributes in the age of electronic systems. Topics include human performance; kinds of cognition; kinds of learning; design principles for electronic performance support systems; and examples. (LRW)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether and, if so, why engineering faculty include occupational and public health and safety in their undergraduate engineering courses. Data were collected from 157 undergraduate engineering faculty from 65 colleges of engineering in the United States. (LZ)

Tensile and compressive forces in planar trusses can be analyzed using either the method of sections or the method of joints. This article summarizes and extends a project accomplished by a high school student using the method of joints and graphing calculators, spreadsheets, and matrix-manipulation software. (MKR)

Special issue includes "Creativity at the Workplace" (Donnelly); "Creativity Revisited" (Iandoli); interviews with 16 people who work in or teach industrial engineering, software, and graphic design; "On Creativity and Schooling" (Coppola, Iandoli); and "End Notes: What I Learned" (Iandoli). (SK)

Distance education may be offered either through institutions created for this purpose (single mode) or through existing universities (dual mode). Each has strengths and weaknesses, but partnerships could meld the best aspects of both, as experience with professional continuing education for engineers in India shows. (SK)

Examines departmental production and cost structures of a homogeneous sample of 18 research universities to estimate relative economies of scale and scope. Examines three departmental clusters (social, physical, and engineering sciences), using a four-output quadratic cost function. Average incremental and marginal costs are highest for research…

Survey responses from 404 (of 523) office support personnel showed that most used computers 3-6 hours per day and had experienced vision or musculoskeletal problems, but most did not see a doctor, take regular breaks, do stretching exercises, or discuss problems with their supervisors. Many were not aware of ergonomic features that could help, and…

Examines three elements useful for solving problems revealed by data gathering and analysis in the context of performance technology: goals, standards, and feedback. Emphasis is on the need for performers of tasks, their supervisors, and the organization as a whole to have the same goals and expectations, and how this is achieved through…

Discusses how those who learn basic human performance technology (HPT) skills can expand expertise in three directions: extended HPT (including generalist, project manager/integrator, and implementation specialist); specialized HPT; and HPT linked to related fields. Presents examples of applications of each alternative. (JKP)

Examines the effectiveness of different forms of questionnaires utilized to evaluate teachers and courses by comparing the use of individual questions with that of global questions. Discusses findings related to specific improvements in the design of student questionnaires. (Author/JJK)

The first of a two-part series on design of CD-ROM work areas in libraries discusses (1) space and location considerations; (2) ergonomics, including work surface, chairs, lighting, printers, other accessories, and security; and (3) other considerations, including staff assistance, reference tools, literature racks, and promotional materials. (MES)

Computer operators using the technique of three-dimensional printing or rapid prototyping may soon be able to sculpt an object on the screen and within minutes, have a paper, plastic, or ceramic version of the object in hand. The process uses the principle that physical objects can be created in layers. (MSE)

Examines 30 years of the National Science Foundation's experience impacting science and engineering education. (ZWH)

Two studies involving workers with moderate/severe mental retardation analyzed productivity rates on a seated assembly task and analyzed the most efficient means to remediate a custodial vacuuming task. A motion economy-based task design was more efficient than the site-based task design in terms of cleanliness, production rates, and reduction of…