A study of the effects of the use of computerized sources on elementary student research projects

The purpose of this study was to determine elementary students\u27 abilities in the information gathering process and the impact of the use of computerized resources on these abilities. Did the use of computerized research technology improve students\u27 results? How well did students make use of this technology to find information? Would students effectively combine the use of computerized and print sources for information? What effect did the inclusion of computers have on the students\u27 attitude towards the research assignment? Four classes of fourth grade students were combined into two groups. Students were assigned to research answers to 50 questions. Each group was assigned to answer 25 using print sources and 25 using computerized sources. Students answered Pre-Activity and Post-Activity surveys. Classes were observed while conducting research. Survey answers and answers to research questions were tabulated, scored, and percentaged. Numbers were compared to allow conclusions to be drawn. The type of information source used had little effect on the number of correct answers given. Students were able to locate information efficiently using computerized sources of information. It was clear that inclusion of computers into the assignment raised levels of enthusiasm and interest among students

A descriptive analysis of the search features of general electronic encyclopedias

This research study is a descriptive analysis of the search features of general electronic encyclopedias in the CD-ROM format. This study describes the browse, analytical and hierarchical search features commonly found in seven electronic encyclopedias. The study found that browse search features are a linear index of titles or subjects, analytical search features offer simple and complex options while the software searches full text, and hierarchical search features offer subject breakdown from broad categories to specific articles. Common trends and variations are described through the use of text, screen shots and tables

Problems with Internet and Library Usage for Secondary School Children

This research consisted of investigating seven hypotheses using the following components: 1. Observation of forty-three secondary school children using the Internet and the library to complete five tasks. 2. An interview was held with all the participants in the study that was audio taped and subsequently transcribed. 3. An on-line form was constructed so that the students could nominate their favourite educational web sites for each class subject. The participants were given five tasks and had to find the answers using two of the most common forms of information retrieval found in Irish schools, the Internet and the school library. Subsequently they were asked twenty questions about their opinions on aspects of the library and the Internet. Points of interest here included that the majority of participants felt that the Internet is faster, easier to use, and better overall than the library, even though it was proven not to be the case. It was also found that the participants nominated sites by domain name without actually investigating if the domain name had any reference to the subject in question. The observation, interview and voting data was then analysed using SPSS to investigate the seven hypotheses. These findings were then reported, discussed and ideas for future study were recommended. Proposed technical and teaching solutions to problems uncovered in this research are also outlined. The above findings have implications for search engine design, the curriculum of the Irish education system, and for teachers in how they use both the Internet and the library to their full potential

Correlations Among Availability of Information and Communication Technology, ICT Skills, Perceived Ease-of-use and Use Electronic Resources by Law Lecturers in Nigerian Public Universities

Law lecturers occupy a vintage position in producing legal experts who will later constitute the bar and benches in the society. However, as global as the profession is, there seems to be existence of some challenges in electronic resources use by law lecturers in public universities in Nigeria. Previous studies on the issue largely focused on strategies for improving the use of ER with little consideration for the extent to which availability of Information and Communication Technology, ICT skills, and perceived ease-of- use could influence the use of ER. Therefore, the study investigated the influence of the availability of ICT, ICT skills (applications, text creation, access and manipulation, database, and the Internet Communication skills) and perceived-ease-of-use on the use of ER by law lecturers in public universities in Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted. Four hundred and twenty (420) law lecturers, 247(58.8%) male and 173(41.2%) female participated in the study. There were significant positive relationships among availability of ICT and use of electronic resources by law lecturers (r =0.21), and ICT skills and use of electronic resources (r=0.22) while perceived ease-of-use of ICT did not. Availability of ICT, ICT skills and perceived ease-of-use, jointly influenced the use of electronic resources (F (2,416) =4.90, R2=0.26). The relative contributions of the independent variables to the use of electronic resources were: availability of ICT (β=.14, t=2.01); ICT skills (β =.14, t=1.87) and perceived ease-of-use of ICT (β =0.20, t=.27). Availability of Information and Communication Technology, Information and Communication Technology skills and ease-of-use of Information and Communication Technology influenced the use of electronic resources by law lecturers in public universities in Nigeria. ICT and other basic infrastructure in appreciable quantity should be provided by the government and the management of the universities for use of the law lecturers and, Publicity of the acquired electronic resources and their contents. Keywords: Information and communication technology, ICT skills, Electronic resources, Perceived ease-of-use of ICT, Law lecturers in public universities, Nigeria

Towards new technology : computerization for maritime education and training at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy

The key to success of any maritime education and training programs in achieving its goals and objectives will depend upon how well various new technology is being used toward the learning process by every educator. This dissertation looks at the use of new technology in maritime education and training such as computer aided learning, to provide basic knowledge and understanding of the functions of the different parameters of computer systems. The paper describes the potential use of computer technology in MET, particularly in a developing country. Some models of computer aided learning (CAL) and computer based training (CBT) are also examined. It describes the overall process of learning and the use of different high-technology instructional materials. The dissertation also considers the integration of computers to new curricula and discusses the implementation of the same. The different models of CAL are studied to improve the system of teaching in the maritime field. In addition, the dissertation evaluates two leading maritime training software programs currently available in the market. Other maritime software programs are also investigated and discussed. In conclusion, proposals and recommendations are made to improve the training facilities and the teaching method at Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) for every student in the field of maritime education and training. The use of computer technology at PMMA for education and training is a method of ensuring that the skills and ability of the trainees are vastly improved

Library Trends 41 (1) 1992: Libraries Serving an Underserved Population: Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Patrons

published or submitted for publicatio

Text format, text comprehension, and related reader variables

This investigation explored relationships between format of text (electronic or print-based) and reading comprehension of adolescent readers. Also in question were potential influences on comprehension from related measures including academic placement of participants, gender, prior knowledge of the content, and overall reading ability. Influences were measured through an unaided text retell and a constructed-response assessment with traditional questioning. Participants\u27 reading preferences and self-reported reading behaviors were also explored.;Findings from regression analyses revealed that format of the text was not a significant predictor of reading comprehension for seventh grade students, despite participants\u27 self-reported preference to reading electronic text. Conversely, participants\u27 academic placements and overall reading abilities were significant predictors of comprehension, as measured by both retell and constructed-response assessments. Having prior knowledge of the subject content was advantageous for participants on retell measures but did not appear to impact performance on the constructed response assessment. Gender, however, significantly predicted comprehension on the constructed-response assessment but did not impact retell measures. There were no significant two-way interactions between the format of the text and academic placement, gender, prior knowledge, or overall reading ability.;Findings from a two-part written survey revealed that seventh grade students in this study prefer reading electronic text, as compared to conventionally printed text. Additionally, those who read electronic text reported utilizing a greater number of comprehension strategies than those reading conventionally printed text. Males, as well as students in lower academic placement levels, reported using strategies most often

Dissertation Report IS 8995 Using Dialog CIP At Winona State University To Educate End-Users

Graduate students need to know the resources of their university library in order to do research and cannot be expected to remember any library training they may have received as undergraduates. A class offered by the library on how to search databases available through DIALOG\u27s Classroom Instruction Program (CIP) was proposed, in cooperation with existing research classes in the student\u27s field. A study was conducted at Winona State University. Winona, MN, with research classes offered by two professors in the field of special education. The study was to determine whether the information presented in an instruction session based on six learning objectives --choosing a database, choosing search terms and connectors, using search commands, modifying the search online, printing search results, and logging out--would enable graduate students to conduct an online search. Eighteen graduate students were provided with an hour\u27s free searching on DIALOG in order to locate citations on their own choice of topic as part of an assignment from their instructor. Questionnaires were used to gather student assessments of their skills before and after their DIALOG search, while observation of the student during the search and examination of the actual printout of the search were used in conjunction with performance indicators to rate the actual skill in using DIALOG. All of the students were able to search DIALOG and print out citations but, based on performance indicators, none had the skill to be fully independent searchers

Information resources availability, Staff Quality and Information Services Delivery by Libraries in French-Based Institutions in Lagos and Oyo States, Nigeria

A special library is established to provide information resources and services which are of direct relevance to the interest and activities of the parent institution. Information services delivery in special libraries assists in providing, storing, retrieving and disseminating information to the clientele of such libraries. However, poor information service delivery appears to be rampant in special libraries especially in Nigeria nowadays. This study, therefore, investigated the influence of information resources availability and staff quality on information service delivery in libraries of French-based institutions in Lagos and Oyo States, Nigeria. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, six (6) research questions were raised, and two (2) null hypotheses formulated. The research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design of the correlational type. Data was collected from four (4) librarians, eleven (11) library staff, and five hundred and twenty-seven (527) library users at French-based institutions in Lagos and Oyo States through questionnaire. Data analysis was done in an SPSS output format based on simple frequency count and percentages to answer the research questions 1-6 while Pearsons’ Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the null hypothesis 1 and 2. The findings of this study revealed that the main services available in libraries of French-based institutions are Current Awareness Services, Reference Services, Bibliographic Services, Audio-visual Services, and Shelf-labeling. The quality of the library staff manifest in their communication skills, information resources selection skills, ICT skills especially the use of search engines to locate and retrieve web-based information resources, and knowledge from trainings and education. Findings reveal that the main challenges of information service delivery by libraries of the French-based institutions include: Lack of Internet facilities (mean=3.26); Lack of ICT devices and tools (mean=3.13); Epileptic power supply (mean=2.95); among others. Adequate information resources coupled with quality staff were available for services delivery in the libraries while ICT devices coupled with lack of Internet facilities and epileptic power supply tend to limit the performance of library staff in terms of services delivery. It is therefore recommended among others that management of the libraries of French-based institutions should strive to make Internet facilities, ICT devices, and alternative power supply available for modern day services delivery