In January 2012, I accompanied 5 doctoral computer science students to Nicaragua where they embarked on an action research study to assess and evaluate the usage and conditions for 300 computers that had been donated to a nonprofit, InnerCHANGE WORKS for schools, libraries, health centers, and prisons in Nicaragua. The students worked under the…

Ten years after the groundbreaking "From Barbie to Mortal Kombat" highlighted the ways gender stereotyping and related social and economic issues permeate digital game play, the number of women and girl gamers has risen considerably. Despite this, gender disparities remain in gaming. Women may be warriors in "World of…

Written for secondary students, this booklet provides an introduction to several computer-related concepts through a set of six classroom games, most of which can be played with little more than a sheet of paper and a pencil. The games are: 1) SECRET CODES--introduction to binary coding, punched cards, and paper tape; 2) GUESS--efficient methods…

This booklet was written to answer some basic questions about the use of the computer in education. A number of ways in which computers are used in the learning process are listed, followed by the rationale for using computers in education. Benefits of using computers to improve instruction, to provide learner control, and to develop a…

This brief text serves as an introduction to the vocabulary, concepts and application of data processing. It is intended to provide the professional educator with a working vocabulary in the areas of: (1) unit record data processing; (2) data processing systems; (3) computer-centered data processing; (4) programing; (5) approaches to data…

These case studies are written for educational institutions that wish to plan, extend, or improve their use of computers for learning and teaching. Each case study includes a brief description of each of the following: profile of the institution, history of the development of instructional computing, organization and management, student access to…

The feasibility of computer applications in teacher education programs and growing importance to educational professionals of knowledge of computers provide a framework which justifies the need for a computer utilization survey course in the teacher education curriculum. Instructional management systems to keep records and to monitor student…

The characteristics of jobs that constitute the mix for lower division FORTRAN classes in a university were investigated. Samples of these programs were also benchmarked on a larger central site computer and two minicomputer systems. It was concluded that a carefully chosen minicomputer system could offer service at least the equivalent of the…

Summaries of four workshops sponsored by the Institute For The Future (IFF) are presented. Each focuses on a particular aspect of the social impact of computers: (1) computer models and simulations as aids to decision making; (2) the use of computers in financial operations; (3) perceptions, attitudes, and literacy regarding computers (i.e.,…