Explores possibilities of animated pedagogical agents to enhance the use of support tools in open learning environments. Constructs a typology to describe and compare different pedagogical agents from an instructional design perspective; analyzes currently available pedagogical agents; and reviews empirical research on pedagogical agents in…

Describes Iowa Memorial Union's method for creating its virtual tour, lists equipment and software needed, and offers helpful tips for any institution considering virtual tour development. (EV)

Describes a product called the Event Management System (EMS), a computer software program to manage facility and event scheduling. Provides example of the school district and university uses of EMS. Describes steps in selecting a scheduling-management system. (PKP)

This article details the preparation of a software package tailored specifically for use in a university school counselor education program. The current implementation includes capability for text-based chat enhanced with video for use with clients, advisees, and off-campus supervisors. Examples and links to freeware programs and tutorials are…

Explains portals as tools that gather a variety of electronic information resources, including local library resources, into a single Web page. Highlights include cross-database searching; integration with university portals and course management software; the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) Scholars Portal Initiative; and selected vendors…

Recounts pivotal events in the development of the modern computer and its role in education. Suggests that rather than solely focusing on networked, personal computers, the future of educational technology may lie in the use of specialized, economical computing devices built around open software solutions. (Author/LRW)

Describes the use of a pitch visualization software in a pronunciation course in French as a second language. Outlines the software's characteristics and explains the methodological and pedagogical framework of the experiment. (Author/VWL)

Describes a study that investigated the usefulness of an interactive computer program in eliciting children's reports about an event. Compared results of interviews by computer with interviews with humans with children aged five through eight that showed little benefit in computers over face-to-face interviews. (Author/LRW)

Describes the development and operation of an electronic serial, "The Public-Access Computer Systems Review." Its evolution from the Public-Access Computer Systems Forum--a computer conference on BITNET run by the University of Houston libraries--is explained, and two sidebars describe other conferences and electronic serials available…

Discusses ways in which sentences may be represented in a condensed form in graphic displays of a sentence dependency structure. A prototype of a text structure management system, TEXNET, is described; a quantitative evaluation of automatic abbreviation schemes is presented; full-text compression is discussed; and additional research is suggested.…

Teachers can produce and direct their own instructional videos using computer-driven multimedia. Outlines the basics in combining audio and video technologies to produce videotapes that mix animated and still graphics, sound, and full-motion video. (MLF)

Presents arguments for and against computerized integrated learning systems. Despite developments in problem-solving exercises, illustrated stories, and simulations, integrated systems offer fewer learning opportunities than the spreadsheets, word processors, and multimedia applications typical of independent software. Tips are provided for…

Parameter recovery in the graded-response model was investigated using the MULTILOG computer program under default conditions. Results from 36 simulated data sets suggest that at least 500 examinees are needed to achieve adequate calibration under the graded model. Sample size had little influence on the true ability parameter's recovery. (SLD)

Argues that Nassi-Schneiderman (NS) charts, when used to diagram human procedures, can eliminate prose ambiguities. Asserts that these devices provide most of the advantages of decision tables and trees. Suggests using NS charts in testing the logic and completeness of traditional procedures, or even in place of many traditional publications. (SG)

Describes the use of DIALOGLINK, a searching software for online systems that can be used with microcomputers. Topics discussed include buffer size; multiple copies; screen speedup; print spooler; startup shortcuts; accounting files; type-ahead buffers; and logon macros for use with other online services. (12 references) (LRW)