This is a self-study manual designed for freshman or sophomore engineering students who have interest in the organizational and operational concepts of the digital computer, but little or no experience with such computers. The manual gives an introduction to a general purpose minicomputer, Digital Equipments Corporation's PDP-8. (MK)

A few basic principles that highlight the design of screen displays are detailed. It is noted that none of the principles will help programing efforts, but efforts at improvement in the direction described is expected to result in a more professionally designed work that users appreciate. (MP)

A mathematical technique for solving for the interest rate of a given annuity is explained. The technique is applied to a BASIC program that finds interest rate given the future value, number of payments, and the value of the payment. (MP)

Mathematics activities involving the construction of spirolaterals are presented in this issue of "Student Math Notes." Spirolaterals are figures in which sequences of line segments of differing lengths, connected by angles of a constant size, are drawn repeatedly to create a geometric design. The activities presented involve the…

The attached materials have been developed for use on the CSU CYBER Computer's Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSSONL). The assignments are graded in difficulty and gradually introduce new commands and require the practice of previously learned commands. The handouts begin with basic instructions for logging on; then XEDIT is taught…

Describes a program written in BASIC, called BIGNUM, that was designed to aid in handling big numbers. The program adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides, and raises to a power integers of up to 1024 decimal digits and is thought to be usable on many types of machines. (MP)

Presents a program in Level II BASIC for a TRS-80 computer that simulates a Turing machine and discusses the nature of the device. The program is run interactively and is designed to be used as an educational tool by computer science or mathematics students studying computational or automata theory. (MP)

The skills of prose composition and "top-down" computer programing, such as in BASIC, are viewed as closely interrelated so that careful attention to one will almost always bring improved competence in the other. The structure of this report is compared to a typical quiz/tutorial program to illustrate the point. (MP)

Describes a computer activity (for Apple II) showing junior high students with some programing experience how to make words/letters in original programed poetry move on the computer screen (and gives practice using simple arrays, FOR..NEXT loops, and DATA statements). Includes the complete activity which can be duplicated for classroom use. (JN)

This material provides details on many of the commands available in the Pilot programing language. It is noted that some of the forms described may not be found in individual Pilot systems, but most Pilot implementations will have commands to equivalent things. A list of suggestions for purchase is given. (MP)

A program designed to calculate pi using a Monte Carlo simulation based on "throwing darts" at a quarter circle of unit radius inscribed in a unit square is presented. (MP)

This self-instructional package includes learning objectives, definitions, exercises, and feedback for learning some basic concepts and skills involved in using computers for analyzing data and understanding basic research terminology. Learning activities are divided into four sections: research and research hypotheses; variables, cases, and…

An unusual shape is considered, and properties and steps in drawing it are detailed. The focus is on development and presentation of a computer program that will draw the curve. The program is written in BASIC with special plotting commands for a Techtronix computer, but is adaptable to other systems. (MP)

Three-Key Logo is a useful method for introducing young children to Logo because it does not require numbers skills and eliminates typing slow-down. Briefly outlines the method and provides an exercise which may be duplicates for classroom use. (JN)

Mathematics activities and facts related to pi are presented in this issue of "Student Math Notes." Included are: (1) an exercise based on Buffon's needle problem in which pieces of toothpicks are dropped onto a ruled surface; (2) a calculation of pi to 200 decimal places; (3) exercises related to Biblical and ancient Chinese…