Computers can be used in a variety of ways in the social studies classroom: (1) as a productivity tool to relieve the teacher of the many bookkeeping tasks and allow for more time to be spent on instructional tasks; (2) in business applications such as data base files, electronic spreadsheets, word processing, computer graphics, and to store large…

Presents an activity designed to give students the opportunity to experiment with low-resolution computer graphics to create pictures based on native American art. Library, art, computer math, and social studies skills objectives are listed as well as performance objectives and required materials. Two references on computer graphics and 23 on…

Discusses types of software most useful in social studies classes--games, simulations, and word processing, database, spreadsheets, and graphing--and introduces applications software through descriptions of four learning activities from different parts of the social studies curriculum: introducing databases, writing historical journals, tracking…

Outlines three lessons designed to increase students' involvement in social studies classes, excerpted from the author's book, COMPUTERS, CURRICULUM, AND WHOLE-CLASS INSTRUCTION. Student surveys, supported by database and/or graphing software, are used to study immigration, banking and technology, and interpreting graphs and bias in information.…

Discusses ways in which software (available at most school computing sites) can be used to create interesting visuals for lesson plans and activities. Describes a series of computer-generated graphics (created using Microsoft PowerPoint) designed to support a unit on families and diversity. (MJP)

Defines basic typographic terminology and offers two classroom projects using microcomputers to create and use type. Discusses typeface, type families, type style, type size, and type font. Examples of student projects that include the creation of bulletin board displays and page-size maps. (KO)

This guide reports the opinions of a group of five computer coordinators from educational software and preview agencies about software products that seem promising, but have not necessarily been tested. The 22 software packages reviewed include applications for math, language arts, science, social studies, health, graphics, authoring, and database…

Describes the Minnesota Education Computing Corporation (MECC) Computing and Information Collection, a collection of software products for students in grades 4-12. These products are designed to support individual course content objectives and introduce and practice information literacy skills. Curriculum applications in language arts,…

Reviews three software programs: (1) "Cartooners"--develops creative arts and animation, grades 1-6, Apple IIGS; (2) "PC Globe+"--social studies, geography, grades 4-12, IBM(384K); (3) "Wood Car Rally"--physical science, scientific method, grades 3-9, Apple II. (MVL)

Developed to help educators locate microcomputer software programs they may want to preview for students in grades K-12, this guide lists commercially available microcomputer software programs that have been favorably reviewed by members of the Educational Software Evaluation Consortium. Programs are arranged alphabetically by title within…

Lists recommended computer books published in 1985 and 1986. Categorizes the books as texts for teachers on the topic of computers in education, informational books for young children, and computer activity books. Provides an annotative listing including author, publisher, price, and an evaluation description. (TW)

Eighteen interrelated, sequential lesson plans and supporting materials for teaching computer literacy at the elementary and secondary levels are presented. The activities, intended to be infused into the regular curriculum, do not require the use of a computer. The introduction presents background information on computer literacy, suggests a…

Provides descriptions of 44 award-winning computer software packages that are designed to be used in areas such as science, mathematics, computer literacy, creative arts, language arts, social studies, computer tools, and graphics. (TW)