The advantages of microcomputer networks include resource sharing, multiple user communications, and integrating data processing and office automation. This article nonetheless favors stand-alone computers for Australian secondary school classrooms because of unreliable hardware, software design, and copyright problems, and individual progress…

Describes a computer program that can model the equilibrium processes in the production of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, sulfur trioxide from sulfur dioxide and oxygen, and the nitrogen dioxide-dinitrogen tetroxide equilibrium. Provides information about downloading the program ChemEquilibrium from the World Wide Web. (JRH)

Reports observations on present use of microcomputers in elementary education in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States and presents recommendations regarding hardware, software, use of microcomputers, and teacher training. (MBR)

This book is about learning and teaching with personal computers. It is aimed at teachers, student teachers, those responsible for pre-service and in-service teacher training, school administrators, and parents. The book is arranged in four sections. Part I includes two chapters providing a theoretical framework for learning and teaching with…

Schools throughout Australia both teach about computers and use computers as a medium for teaching at all levels of the educational system, but teachers use the computer to support existing pedagogic practice rather than looking to the computer as an agent of curriculum change. Drawing in a descriptive way upon a number of recent studies and…

Descriptions of microcomputer software packages currently available in Australia emphasize those used by special and school libraries. Software for library management functions, text retrieval, and database management systems are included, and geographical distribution is examined. The need for professional development courses in software…

Explored the performance of primary school children in Logo programming tasks while they worked in one of three gender pairs (girl, boy, or boy-girl). Found no considerable differences in performance based on gender. Results suggest that what distinguished performance was the application of metastrategic processes--the most effective solutions…

Microcomputers are advocated as a primary teaching tool for independent and correspondence study, provided suitable software is available and consideration is given to initial student attitudes, peculiarities in computer communication, and the low predictive power of psychological tests in computer-based learning. (Author/MSE)

The focus of this workshop involving people from 13 countries in Asia and the Pacific Region was on using computers to assist learning in mathematics. The report contains the following sections: (1) Introduction; (2) The Mathematics Curriculum: Innovation and Change; (3) The Mathematics Classroom: New Ideas with Computers; (4) Software: Quality…

An Amiga 500 microcomputer with a talking word processor was used by an Australian visually impaired elementary school pupil, to provide an alternative to braille in using text and writing. This article reviews the relevant literature, explores the challenges and limitations posed by the technology, and offers a case study of the student and her…

Computer-based technologies are rapidly changing fundamental concepts about texts and how students interact with and learn from those texts. Early use of microcomputers included drill and practice work, tutorial programs, and word processing. In conjunction with information storage devices like magnetic and laser disc, the microcomputer has also…

Reports on the results of a study of business undergraduates in Australia that was conducted to determine whether or not perceived knowledge of software, microcomputer experience, overall knowledge of computers, programming experience, and gender were predictors of computer anxiety. Use of the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale is discussed.…

This report contains recommendations and guidelines for the development of a national computer education program for all Australian schools. The introduction provides background information on the appointment of the National Advisory Committee on Computers in Schools, including the guidelines and objectives set for it by the government. Chapter 2,…

This publication is designed to assist teacher librarians or those who are in charge of school libraries in the following areas: (1) online information services; (2) electronic bulletin boards and electronic mail; (3) CD-ROM and videodisc; (4) hypertext and hypermedia; (5) automated library systems; and (6) developing an IT plan for a school…

Starting with an analysis of technological change and innovation cycles, this paper explores the effects of information technology on education in Australia over the past decade. Taking into account current programs and policies concerning the introduction of information technology in education, the paper outlines possible directions for future…