Use of personal computers as teaching partners in basic skills instruction of the hearing-impaired personalizes and extends teaching techniques related to existing textbooks. This approach provides both phonetic and phonologic practice. Benefits of this approach are the faster pace and better retention of the material, peer support in performing…

The Basic Skills Keyboards is a software program that features a variety of game files presented in ways tied to the cognitive deficits associated with autism. The program is based on the hypothesis that such students have problems with cause-effect, means-end, and personal agency, and would develop a working knowledge of these relationships via…

Describes the development of an online developmental reading course with asynchronous interaction among the students and instructor. Recommends using research on effective readers and effective reading instruction to dictate course curriculum and instruction; using online course packages to deliver the course; and piloting the course on-campus…

The Army's Job Skills Education Program is a computer-based instructional program that teaches basic academic skills in a job-related context. Its transferability to the civilian workplace provides another tool for enhancing workplace literacy. (SK)

Eight vocational schools in Jefferson County, Kentucky, use computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for remedial work in math, reading, and language skills. The use of CAI in the career development centers has led to other programs--for adults, dropouts, and potential dropouts--and has brought about a close working relationship with Louisville…

The learning lab at Hawaii Community College (HCC) has, for the past year and a half, utilized the PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) computer-assisted instructional program. PLATO, which is used by students whose preferred learning mode falls into the listening, visual, or reading categories, serves to broaden the learning…

Students in Miami-Dade Community College's remedial education courses supplement reading, writing, and mathematics coursework with computer-assisted instruction in a special electronic classroom. The experimental program is investigating whether integrating computer instruction in the basic skills curriculum helps underprepared students overcome…

Describes computer assisted instruction (CAI) by ASSIST (Authoring System Supplementing Instruction Selected by Teachers), part of a project to develop and evaluate CAI programs for mentally handicapped children. (CMV)

Describes Project IPASS, a computer-managed, criterion-referenced, testing and instructional program in basic math skills covering grades one through eight. Claims that the program is the least expensive and most effective microcomputer program for providing the largest number of students with supplementary mathematics instruction. (KH)

The Basic Skills Learning System is a modularized network of computer assisted tutorials, drills, tests, printed materials, and videotaped presentations directed at improving the basic reading, math, and language skills of adults who have mastered these skills at a level above third grade but below eighth grade. Advanced computer technology…

Dedicated computers are designed to perform a specific function (such as check-out computers in supermarkets). Because software for these computers is either built in or housed in separate plug-in program modules, programming knowledge is not necessary. The use of these computers to help individuals master basic academic subjects is discussed.…

Describes a student-centered software package designed at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin to support student writing by helping students generate ideas, improve organization and development, and improve editing capabilities. Describes UT's basic writers and presents findings from the classroom research-based program evaluation. (DMM)

Pointing out the difficulties in passing from the industrial age to the information age, this paper discusses the advent of new technologies and worldwide recognition of the significant influence technology will have for education. Conferences resulting in development actions aimed at introducing new information technologies into education and…

An outgrowth of a conference of developmental faculty and administrators interested in exploring computer-based education, this monograph presents 26 papers devoted to microcomputer applications in college basic skills programs. Included are 5 papers on general topics, 13 on language teaching, 7 on mathematics, and 1 dissent paper. Articles range…

Describes the Summer Training and Education Program (STEP) designed to reduce summer learning losses, improve reading and math skills, increase graduation rates, and reduce the incidence of teen parenthood. Reports that STEP succeeds in slowing, and in many cases stopping, summer learning losses of at-risk students. (RS)