This presentation will demonstrate the uses of SAM 2003 from Course Technology as a skills assessment and training software that is used via the Internet. Historically, testing in computer education has taken the form of pencil and paper or standardized testing. The actual computer skills of the student have not been properly assessed. With SAM,…

Automation of the survey process has proved successful in many industries, yet it is still underused in educational research. This is largely due to the facts (1) that number crunching is usually carried out using software that was developed before information technology existed, and (2) that the educational research is to a great extent trapped…

A simulation study compared three methods of estimating parameters within structural equation models (SEM) with polytomous variables. These methods appear in three SEM computer software packages: (1) LISREL (Joreskog and Sorbom, 1996) with PRELIS (Joreskog and Sorbom); (2) EQS (Bentler, 1995); and (3) the new Mplus (Muthen and Muthen, 1998). The…

Demonstrates that instruction software is a public good, in the economic sense, and that the instruction programs now in use make up a stock which will be fully utilized only if certain public overhead is incurred. The implications of this analysis are examined. (Author/CMV)

Discusses computer viruses and explains how to detect them; discusses virus protection and the need to update antivirus software; and offers 10 safe computing tips, including scanning floppy disks and commercial software, how to safely download files from the Internet, avoiding pirated software copies, and backing up files. (LRW)

Computer skills were identified and grouped as follows: operating systems, graphical user interface, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Responses from 47 of 420 employers rated proficiency in all of these groups essential. Database skills were particularly highly rated. (SK)

Examines the failure of current technology to meet education's flexible needs and points to a promising solution: component software architecture. Discusses the failure of stand-alone applications in their incompatibility, waste of funding, prevention of customization, and obstruction of integration. (AEF)

Reviews methods for analyzing repeated measures data in addition to the conventional and corrected degrees of freedom univariate and multivariate solutions. Reviews the literature regarding recent procedures with respect to robustness, ability to handle missing data, and availability of software to obtain numerical results. (SLD)

A FORTRAN subroutine is presented to calculate a generalized measure of agreement between multiple raters and a set of correct responses at any level of measurement and among multiple responses, along with the associated probability value, under the null hypothesis. (Author)

Usable surveys were received from 282 (23.5%) subscribers to a computer magazine, of whom 91.5% had taught themselves the use of presentation software. Less than 40% had graphic design training; about half recognized a need for it. Printed documentation was the most common means of support. (SK)

Reviews federal copyright laws protecting computer software and what school districts must do to be in compliance with the law. (PKP)

Examines, evaluates, and organizes a wide variety of knowledge management software tools by examining the literature related to the selection and evaluation of knowledge management tools. (Author/SLD)

Describes a comprehensive computer software selection and evaluation process, including documenting district needs, evaluating software packages, weighing the alternatives, and making the purchase. (PKP)

The paper explores the capabilities and limitations of computerized spelling checkers, and describes "School Speller," which operates with the "Magic Slate II" word processing package. Program features include requiring students to practice spelling by re-typing words unrecognized by the program, and allowing teachers to view the accumulating list…

Reviews efforts to develop computer-based, case-management simulations for use in training rehabilitation counselors. Describes exemplary systems. Discusses issues related to research and development of computer software in case-management training. (Author)