Presents evaluation guidelines for educational software for educators with limited knowledge of computers. (MD)

A recent survey found many teachers are selecting instructional software programs without sufficient research. Outlines four areas to consider when buying instructional software. (MD)

Proposes a method for evaluating courseware as an integral part of curriculum, based both on "curriculum commonplaces" (the curriculum content and all that surrounds it) and on educational values and beliefs; an evaluative matrix is offered, with the commonplaces arrayed along one axis, values and beliefs along the other. (MCG)

Critiques the Henry Levin and Gail Meister article on cost effectiveness, pointing out that differences in computing the costs of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) yield different results. Also describes problems with other data in the study. Includes two tables. (MD)

Getting real educational benefits from investments in technology requires careful planning. Based on the experience of implementing PLATO[R] at over 5,000 sites, a nine-step planning model for implementing technology was developed. The nine planning tasks are based on the understanding of the factors that are critical to the success of most…