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Reference departments across North America have been struggling in recent years with a “reference crisis.” This crisis is characterized by too much demand for service, too many low‐level and repetitive questions, not enough time to answer more challenging questions properly, too few staff to give service at all hours when it is needed, and so on. At the same time, there is a growing concern with the quality of reference service being provided. Reference departments are being exhorted to evaluate the quality of their reference service and to take measures, if necessary, to bring it up to an acceptable standard. But these two issues, the reference crisis and reference evaluation, are related. No amount of staff training or job rotation can improve the standard of reference if the problems associated with the reference crisis are not addressed as well.

This paper presents a new solution for conceptually modeling the training‐domain knowledge of intelligent computerassisted instructional (ICAI) systems. Various cognitive demands from learners impose various modalities of presenting and structuring the knowledge to be taught. This paper is presenting a theoretical framework allowing to develop coherent, flexible models for the training‐domain knowledge of an ICAI system. A case study and an authoring‐system are also presented, in order to describe the main features of the modeling methods. This new approach in ICAI systems’ domain‐knowledge structuring and representation can offer a solution to the problem of adapting the instructional system interaction to users with different learning styles and needs.

Finance, accountancy, auditing.

Supports information systems audit (ISA), auditing practises and controls, corporate governance and internal controls and financial management modules, business administration and MBA programmes.

The case study focuses on the implementation of ISA and information technology in the highly responsible task of executing financial audits The case emphasises on the fact that the advantages of ISA can only be reaped when they are amalgamated with an auditor's scrutiny, sharp eye, extensive knowledge of auditing systems and accounting principles and a rich experience of the auditing function. The suggested synergy also facilitates a reduction of around 60 per cent, in the cost of executing the audits and the man-hours required to complete the audit, as in the case of Jain Chowdhary & Company.

The case helps students to comprehend the relevance of audit trail. It emphasises on the importance of identifying the source of information and tracking raw data backward. It familiarises the students with the complexities involved in a real audit and emphasises on the role of logic, intelligence, diligence, patience and farsightedness while performing the auditing function. It is important for them to understand how White collar crimes take place in real business economy. This case, hence exposes students to these nuances and can make a student, from a non-commerce background, understand the key elements of efficient auditing. (Elaborate teaching objectives are appended in the teaching note.)

Teaching note.

In the first installment of this series, the discussion focused mainly on the technologies that support participation in computermediated conferences. This installment looks briefly at the conferences and electronic publications native to BITNET. BITNET, an exclusively academic network, is a rich environment, offering users access to electronic journals and newsletters, file services, and computer‐mediated conferences on almost every topic of interest to educators.

As information services become more complex and the methods of delivery more diverse, the professionals providing this service must become skilled in problem solving, and have a sound theoretical understanding of their discipline. It is not sufficient to offer users vague, unsatisfactory solutions to their problems because we are unsure of our own strategies. As educators, we must look to the best means accessible to us to systematize our discipline; expert system development applied in a variety of subject areas is worthy of close examination as a means of working towards this goal.

To meet the increased demand for assistance from both the novice and the more experienced enquirer amidst an environment of decreasing funding for staff resources, some automation must be used. University libraries are increasingly implementing computers and automation. This trend encourages and facilitates the use of expert systems in those libraries. Expert systems can be used as guides to provide a broad overview of library services and resources. Expert systems may also be used within the narrow focus of a particular course or department, and, soon, may be used to provide detailed relevant information to suit the “level” of the user.

The success of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) has always been questioned. Recent developments however in the object‐oriented technologies and artificial intelligence techniques have allowed development of better human‐computer interaction for effective teaching and learning. This paper presents the implementation of an ITS that employs game environment and object‐oriented user interface (OOUI) for teaching and learning. The reported implementation is based on use of a game environment to impart industrial training for energy conservation in a steam distribution system. The ITS developed allows players to assume a particular role in a process industry and learn efficient operation of steam distribution system for conserving energy in the plant. The design of game environment and supporting OOUI are discussed. Those aspects of design and implementation that are of equal interest to game designers, instructional designers and educationists are described in detail. The paper may assist game developers and instructional designers in developing ITS for other disciplines.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionised the tourism industry, offering personalised experiences and streamlining operations. AI provides customised recommendations for travellers through data analysis and machine learning, making their journeys more meaningful. It has also improved efficiency through automated processes, chatbots and enhanced security measures. AI's ability to analyse large volumes of data enables tourism organisations to make data-driven decisions and target their marketing strategies effectively. One of the most notable contributions of AI in tourism is its ability to offer personalised recommendations. By analysing vast travel history, preferences and online behaviour, AI systems can provide tailored suggestions for destinations, accommodations, activities and dining options. This level of customisation enhances the overall travel experience, making it more relevant and satisfying for individual travellers. AI has also greatly improved operational efficiency within the tourism sector. Chatbots, powered by natural language processing, are increasingly being deployed by hotels, airlines and travel agencies to provide instant customer support and assistance. These chatbots can answer queries, offer recommendations and handle booking processes, reducing waiting times and enhancing customer satisfaction. In addition, facial recognition technology allows for quick and accurate identity verification at airports, hotels and other travel-related facilities. This improves security and provides travellers with a seamless and efficient experience. As technology advances, we expect AI to play a more prominent role in augmented reality, voice recognition and virtual assistants, further enhancing the travel experience and facilitating seamless interactions. In conclusion, AI has transformed the tourism industry by providing personalised recommendations, improving operational efficiency, enhancing security measures and enabling data-driven destination management.

‘If you're not on the net, you're not in the know’, stated The Economist in its 1992 year‐end review of conspiracies and networks. While it is true that the Internet is a wonderful resource, i.e. an ocean of information waiting to be tapped, and while it is also true that the information is freely available, not everybody has access to it. If you're working for the academic community or some research institution, you probably only need to ask your local system administrator.

The objective of this paper is to review and analyze the existing literature on computerized accounting education (CAE) in educational institutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and to suggest a research agenda for the future.

The author employs a structured literature review (SLR) approach to analyze CAE research published in the GCC between 1981 and 2021.

The current study has focused mainly on education in the field of computerized accounting (CA); however, very few research studies have focused on CAE. The author recognized two key topics: the broad concept of CA and the identification of software programs used to teach CA courses.

A future study might extend to address the gap in the knowledge of graduate students’ theoretical concept in accounting with CA program across higher-educational institutions (HEIs) in the GCC.

The broad topic analyzed by the author leads to highlight the growing need for students’ practical skills in CA, particularly in the GCC, and to give suggestions for future research. This study also provides a kind of advice to educational institutions to implement an appropriate CA program for CA courses.

Currently, there is a lack of SLR on CAE. Findings on the broad topic analyzed in the current study have been addressed by agreeing on a critical assessment of present research and future research goals.