292 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION, VOL. 40, NO. 4, NOVEMBER 1997

Software Tools to Improve Note-Taking in the Classroom

Daniel Pilon, Jacques Raymond, and Patricia Raymond

Abstract—This paper describes the functionalities and some implemen-tation details of software tools to assist and to improve the process ofnote taking by students during a traditional lecture. The software toolsallow professors to interact effectively with the students during lecturesand help students to take relevant notes. They are based on a previouslydescribed software, and use a network of pen-based computers as well asa large screen projection system.

Index Terms—Class interaction, computer-aided learning, computer-aided lecturing, pen computing.

Manuscript received February 4, 1997; revised June 22, 1997.D. Pilon is with MICA Office, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa,

Ont. Canada, K1A 0K2.J. Raymond is with the Computer Science Department, University of

Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, K1A 0K2.P. Raymond is with Second Language Institute, University of Ottawa,

Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1A 0K2..

Daniel Pilon received the Masters degree in computer science from theUniversity of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada.

He is a superior officer of the Canadian Armed Forces. Throughout hiscareer, he has worked in every aspect of the automatic data processing field.Since his work in a computer-assisted learning project in 1983, he has beeninvolved in enhancing, integrating, and using new technologies in education.He was the last Director of Computing Services at Coll`ege Militaire Royal deSt-Jean. After the college’s closure in August 1995, Major Pilon was assignedas the Assistant Manager of the Information Control Agency for the CanadianForces Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.

Jacques Raymondreceived the Ph.D. degree in computer science from theUniversity of Paris, Paris, France, in 1970.

He is a Telecommunications Engineer (ENST 67) and a Professor atthe University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, in the Computer ScienceDepartment. His research interests include Computer-Aided Lecturing, Soft-ware Quality. He is a also a member of the Telecommunication SoftwareEngineering Research Group at Ottawa University. He is the author of LæProf(a courseware creation system), and moniCA (an OO lecturing system).

Patricia Raymond received the Ph.D. degree from the Universit´e deMontreal, Montreal, Que., Canada.

She is an Associate Professor at the Second Language Institute at theUniversity of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. Her research interests includemental models, theories of reading and writing L1/L2 Testing in reading,strategic competence, strategic instruction, and Computer-Assisted Lecturing.Her most recent work is a reader for ESL students. It incorporates readerresponse theory into reading instruction.

Helping to Shape the Future of Education

Norman L. Fortenberry and James J. Powlik

Abstract—For more than a decade, the National Science Foundation’sDivision of Undergraduate Education (DUE) has continued to extendand broaden its efforts in the revitalization of undergraduate education.This process began with innovative single projects, then expanded todisciplinary initiatives in engineering, calculus, and chemistry that soughtto disseminate best practices across all institutions. The current emphasisof DUE programs is on continued systemic reform through facultyand teacher development as well as curricular reform and laboratoryimprovement. The effect of these activities is the presentation of materialin an engaging manner, employing effective pedagogy and instructionaltechnology to attract and retain students in engineering, mathematics,and the sciences. They additionally prepare all graduates—majors aswell as nonmajors—for entry into the workforce, rewarding careers,and a desire to continue learning throughout their lives. In considering

the recommendations arising from the recent review of undergraduateeducation and the opinions of the community at large, DUE will continueto provide coordination and assistance in the comprehensive reform ofhigher education.

Index Terms—Education, funding, government, reform, undergradu-ate.

Manuscript received March 10, 1997; revised July 28, 1997.N. L. Fortenberry is with the Division of Undergraduate Education, Di-

rectorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation,Arlington, VA 22230 USA.

J. J. Powlik is with Friday Systems Services, Rockville, MD 20850 USA.

Norman L. Fortenberry is Division Director, Undergraduate Education, atthe National Science Foundation, for the year beginning November 1996.He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at RensselaerPolytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Previously, he served as Executive Director ofthe National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineeringand Science, Inc. During the time prior to NSF service, he served as a ProgramDirector for Engineering and as a Staff Associate within the Division ofUndergraduate Education. Before joining the NSF in 1992, he was also afaculty member at Florida A&M University/Florida State University Collegeof Engineering, Tallahassee, where he taught and conducted research in theareas of design theory and methodology.

James J. Powlik, an Information and Media Specialist for Friday SystemsServices, has been a consultant to DUE since 1995. As an oceanographer andDirector of Raggedtooth Productions, he has advised on technical content,education efficacy, program design, career counseling, and public outreachfor clients including NSF, NASA, the Earth Communications Office, sciencemuseums, aquariums, nonprofit organizations, and school programs fromkindergarten through graduate school. He is the author of several researchpapers on copepod and elasmobranch biology, biophysics, and methodology,and has written textbooks on vertebrate morphology, aquatic ecology, andoceanographic terminology.

A Case Study in the Development ofMulti-Media Educational Material:

The VHDL Interactive Tutorial

Anthony J. Gadient,Senior Member, IEEE, Jack A. Stinson, Jr.,Senior Member, IEEE, Tommy C. Taylor, James H. Aylor,Fellow, IEEE,Robert H. Klenke,Member, IEEE, Maximo H. Salinas,Member, IEEE,

Vijay K. Madisetti, Thomas W. Egolf,Member, IEEE,Shahram Famorzadeh, Larry N. Karns,and Harold W. Carter,Member, IEEE

Abstract—While industry and academia have been aware of the needfor an intensive study of embedded digital system design, resourceconstraints, fuzzy objectives, and short-time horizon have handicappedprogress. The $150M Rapid Prototyping of Application Specific SignalProcessors (RASSP) program is a major DARPA/Tri-Service effort de-signed to overcome these limitations. This effort has developed a numberof new technologies that will lead to dramatically shorter prototypingtimes and reduced life cycle costs. In an effort to ensure the successfultransfer of these new technologies, the RASSP Education & Facilitation(RASSP E&F) program is working to transfer this technology intograduate and undergraduate curricula by developing and transferring ed-ucational material. Only by successfully inserting these rapid-prototypingtechnologies into the curricula and research activities of the universitycommunity will the long-term benefits of these technologies be realized. Toachieve this technology transfer objective, the RASSP E&F program hasdeveloped educational material on the key elements of rapid-prototypingof embedded digital systems technology. The result of this effort is a set ofeducational “modules” covering selected topics. A module is designed tocover a complete topic area and consists of approximately three hours oflecture material in the form of completely prepared and annotated slides,homework problems with solutions, laboratory exercises, and instructors