This design guide offers guidance to science educators, architects, and others concerned with the provision of science accommodations in Ontario, Canada, either through new construction or the adaptation of existing buildings. The publication is not a blueprint for facilities nor an attempt to standardize all science programs and facilities; it is…

The last section of a three-part series deals with computer hardware requirements, program installation, and evaluation techniques. The first two parts appeared in the July and September 1981 issues. (Author/MLF)

Discusses challenges that arise in creating school entranceways that meld accessibility with attractiveness, noting the importance of considering both aesthetic impact and the design mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Creative solutions include tying a walkway into a progressive stair; incorporating the ramp into a masonry…

Discussion of Web page design covers balancing text and graphics; pixels; graphic file formats; dithering; and caching. (LRW)

Describes recent improvements in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) offered by online services. Highlights include design considerations, including computer engineering capabilities and users' abilities; fundamental GUI design principles; user empowerment; visual communication and interaction; and an evaluation of online search interfaces. (LRW)

Introduces the concept of designing World Wide Web pages that facilitate information seeking and problem solving; describes a model for information problem-solving and techniques for applying the model to Web page design; and lists Web page design guides, both online and print resources. (Author/LRW)

Outlines factors to be considered in planning a dedicated room when a school system plans to become involved in a network of interactive television for distance learning. (MLF)

The history, advantages, and disadvantages of artificial rock climbing walls (used to instruct individuals in the sport of rock climbing) are discussed. Additional topics include designing an artificial wall, types of walls, various uses, and risk management. (IAH)

Though efforts to improve playground safety are consistent and ongoing, there has been no significant reduction in the rate of serious injuries. The article lists factors to consider when designing a safe playground, emphasizing the risk-taking inherent in children's play. (SM)

The brochure provides suggestions for adapting or building living quarters to accommodate persons with physical limitations. Encouraged is barrier-free universal design to allow all persons, disabled or able bodied, to move freely, independently, and safely in their surroundings. Illustrations and text provide guidance for design of ramps, front…

Instructional projects are balanced when the pieces come together at one time with the concurrent approval of all interested parties. The physical analogy of a tripod can serve to illustrate the interaction among three dimensions of all projects: content, or what the course will contain; form, or what the course will look like; and process, or how…

Developed as part of the International Year of Disabled Persons, the guide is intended to help planners, architects, and designers to accommodate the built environment of developing regions for disabled persons. Guidelines focus on public building in urban or village settings and emphasize simple solutions to common problems. Following an…

Guidelines for continuing education for information, library, and media personnel are presented in this report, which provides criteria for five different kinds of continuing education strategies: (1) group programs and activities; (2) individualized programs and activities; (3) instructional materials and technologies; (4) continuing education…

Describes the process of designing the educational facility. Observations about the total design activity relate the need for the integration of educational programs with a thorough understanding of basic design principles. (MLF)

This article describes seven methods of calculating a school's capacity (the number of students that can be instructed without curtailing the educational program), including one devised by the author. (MCG)