Reviews computer networks and online services designed especially for teachers, as well as networks broadly targeted for business, home, and education. Presents a resources directory of networks to assist persons with disabilities. (SR)

Offers principles for purchasing a new personal computer, and discusses matching principles with needs. (SR)

Suggests that critical thinking and higher level thinking, involving such abilities as analysis, reasoning, decision making, problem solving, and evaluation, occur as a function of reanalyzing and restructuring information. Presents software for students and teachers to handle such knowledge restructuring, particularly as it is presented in…

Suggests that business communication instructors cannot and must not avoid teaching students the importance of computers. Urges teachers to press their institutions to make available the computing facilities needed. (RS)

Suggests that business communication teachers not yield to the temptation to teach software in business communication courses. Suggests that, in such courses, the primary focus is on communication strategies and that teaching software packages eats up valuable time. (RS)

Argues that business communication teachers must keep abreast of technological advances and inform students of software packages that enhance effective communication. Suggests that the depth in which software is covered must be guided by overall course objectives and computer availability. (RS)

Computer-based integrated instructional systems (IISs), also called integrated learning systems, are becoming more prevalent in the classroom. Several critical factors influence IIS effectiveness, including coordination of the IIS with the school's curriculum, appropriate staff training, choice of system manager, principal and district support,…

The first of two articles on in-house CD-ROM publishing deals with estimating costs and selecting hardware. Topics include premastering systems, delivery systems, staffing requirements, organizational requirements, publishing partnerships, estimating costs, retrieval software costs, and media costs. A cost summary for complete CD-ROM application…

Discusses the need to reengineer performance development in light of new technologies, concepts, and tools. Topics addressed include current performance development strategies; new models; learning strategies versus training strategies; electronic performance support and software; and the role of the instructional developer. (LRW)

Compares three electronic encyclopedias offered for young people: Compton's, Encarta, and the new Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Contents, interface, and navigation between articles are discussed; and recommended grade level, computer platforms, price, upgrade costs, documentation, and multimedia elements are compared. (LRW)

Presents a technique for developing a knowledge-base of information to use in an expert system. Proposed approach employs a popular machine-learning algorithm along with a method for forming a finite number of features or conjuncts of at most n primitive attributes. Illustrates this procedure by examining qualitative information represented in a…

Provides decision-making tips when selecting facilities management software for colleges and universities. It advises to get a program that fits a prepared plan, pay attention to user friendliness, negotiate for changes and modifications in the vendor contract, test run the program before buying it, and determine a vendor's service level…

Reviews commonly used search engines (AltaVista, Excite, infoseek, Lycos, HotBot, WebCrawler), focusing on existing comparative studies; considers quality dimensions from the customer's point of view based on a SERVQUAL framework; and groups these quality expectations in five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and…

Describes a system for using the World Wide Web to distribute computational tasks to multiple hosts on the Web that is written in Java programming language. Describes the programs written to carry out the load distribution, the structure of a "distriblet" class, and experiences in using this system. (Author/LRW)

In many companies, training management and knowledge management are merging. Enterprise-resource-planning software products promise seamless integration of all information flowing through a company. Training then becomes part of a process, not a course or event. (SK)