In the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), Congress called for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to conduct a rigorous study of the conditions and practices under which educational technology is effective in increasing student academic achievement. A 2007 report presenting study findings for the 2004-2005 school year, indicated that, after one…

This note takes up the issue of parallel curves while illustrating the utility of "Mathematica" in computations. This work complements results presented earlier. The presented treatment, considering the more general case of parametric curves, provides an analysis of the appearance of cusp singularities, and emphasizes the utility of symbolic…

The central objective of factor analysis is to explain the greatest amount of variance in a data set with the smallest number of factors. Higher-order analysis is an invaluable tool that offers the benefit of parsimony provided by first-order analysis with the opportunity to make data-based generalizations beyond the first-order. Higher-order…

Provides examples of nested subroutines, focusing on the Gaussian quadrature function and test program (program listings included). Nested subroutines, features of the Gaussian quadrature, and when not to use it are considered. (JN)

Provides complete listing of an Applesoft arcade-style game which teaches rapid recognition, discrimination, and sequencing of the alphabet. Four levels of play are featured for sequential reinforcement of these skills. The game also trains left-to-right scanning, promotes development of visual-motor integration skills, and develops directionality…

Epicycloids are formed by tracing the path of a fixed point on a circle as it rolls aroung the outside of a larger circle. Examines several possibilities related to epicycloids (and hypocycloids), presenting more mathematical patterns and artistic shapes that result from using several computer programs. Program listings are included. (JN)

Discusses properties of epicycloids. (The easiest way to picture them is to think of a piece of radioactive bubble gum attached to a wheel which is rolling around the outside of a larger wheel.) Includes a computer program (TRS-80 color computer) that will graph any epicycloid with integer values for the radii. (JN)

Bootstrap analysis, both for nonparametric statistical inference and for describing sample results stability and replicability, has been gaining prominence among quantitative researchers in educational and psychological research. Procedurally, however, it is often quite a challenge for quantitative researchers to implement bootstrap analysis in…

The Missouri district is a small rural school district with 450 students and 51 staff with a total of 210 client computers. The district consists of two schools (K-6 and 7-12) housed in a single building. This document contains the results of the four 2004 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) case studies: (1) Software costs; (2) Hardware costs; (3)…

Describes method of generating Electronic Yellow Pages mailing labels using DIALOG commands which involve downloading to disk and interposing a BASIC language program between disk and printer. Downloading problems (accession numbers, "tic" which DIALOG provides, line noise), two versions of program (full, compressed), and output examples…

Presents: (1) a computer program which will change a fraction into a decimal; (2) a program in which students supply missing lines to create the output given; and (3) suggestions for adding computer awareness to classrooms, including use of used punch cards and old computer-generated printouts. (JN)

Lists a short Applesoft program which uses Hi-Res graphics to help students aged eight and up learn the points of a compass. Program features include help on incorrect responses and display of the percentages of correct responses at the end of a session. (JN)

Presents an Applesoft computer program to help students translate abstract sentences into concrete visible lines and thereby discover and confirm facts about slopes, intercepts, angles, and intersections. The program graphs and analyzes lines, given as equations of the form Y equals M times X plus B. (JN)

Presents algorithms for the simulation and motion display of the three basic kinematic devices: (1) four bar linkages; (2) the slider crank; and (3) the inverted slider crank mechanisms. The algorithms were implemented on a Commodore-VIC 20 microcomputer system with 6500 bytes of available memory. (Author/JN)

Presents an application of the binomial distribution in which the distribution is used to detect differences between the sensory properties of food products. Included is a BASIC computer program listing used to generate triangle and duo-trio test results. (JN)