Despite the growing number of books designed to radically reconsider the educational value of video games as powerful learning tools, there are very few practical guidelines conveniently available for prospective history and social studies teachers who actually want to use these teaching and learning tools in their classes. As the games and…

To help teachers cope with the proliferation of software and software sources, a number of resources are available to aid in the evaluation and selection of educational software. For instance, both the "Educator's Handbook and Software Directory" and "Swift's Directory of Educational Software, Apple II Edition" provide listings…

Describes the use of barcodes to link laser discs with books in school libraries. Highlights include use of a barcode reader as a remote control device as well as a scanner, guidelines for making laser disc books, and a sidebar that explains how to make barcodes and describes software. (LRW)

Two technology guidelines are contributed by Robin Rider of East Carolina University based on the TI-Interactive software she had introduced. The two guidelines to use for this software consist firstly of data gathering with a Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL) and Calculator-Based Ranger (CBR) without a graphing calculator, and secondly the…

Five guidelines for enhancing the value of a computer graphics program are described and illustrated. Using a well-structured program, correct scaling, normalized device coordinates, word coordinates, and illusions are discussed. (MNS)

Guidelines for selecting good educational software are presented and based on general principles that are relevant to a wide variety of teaching programs, topics, students, and computer systems. (MP)

Intended to teach instructors how to use the NovaNET computer system or the PLATO system to deliver instruction, this manual provides instructions for using both NovaNET, which supercedes PLATO, and the crouter software package, which is a general purpose tool for managing instruction on the NovaNET computer. This self-instructional manual is…

The recommendations of the Commonwealth Schools Commission's National Advisory Committee on Computers in Schools are summarized. They are classified in terms of curriculum development, professional development, support services, software and courseware, hardware, and organization. (MNS)

Virtual Reality (VR) offers benefits to engineering education. This article defines VR and describes types; outlines reasons for using VR in engineering education; provides guidelines for using VR; presents a model for determining when to use VR; discusses VR applications; and describes hardware and software needed for a low-budget VR and…

If you've ever questioned the logic of reducing a student's entire academic performance to a single test score or a vague letter grade, then here's a book that will revolutionize the way you think about assessment and grading. Drawing from years of in-depth research, Robert J. Marzano provides you with guidelines and steps for designing a…

Designed to assist teachers who are not familiar with computer applications in elementary education, this guide provides information on personal skill development, computer terminology, software organization and evaluation, and troubleshooting. A tentative set of computer education objectives is outlined, and examples and strategies for effective…

These guidelines are designed to give preservice teachers information to use in selecting techniques and planning learning experiences for young children in the microcomputer laboratory. The main purpose of this laboratory experience is for children to develop computer awareness/literacy and keyboard knowledge, and to improve skills in following…

Examines barriers to student participation in online conferences, including psychological/social forces and software limitations. Proposes the following ways to encourage student input: require participation; form learning teams; make activities interesting; don't settle just for opinions; structure activities; require hand-in assignments; know…

Describes how to create hypermedia-based computer-assisted instruction for teachers developing multimedia activities. Cognitively based instructional design is discussed; cognitive objectives are considered; and tables provide examples of commercial and noncommercial multimedia programs as well as possible feedback and evaluation strategies. (10…

Discussion of the use of computers and appropriate software for teaching learning disabled individuals focuses on improving problem solving, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Highlights include evaluation guidelines, teaching strategies, and reviews of 10 programs that have been used successfully with different age groups with a variety of…