Describes a computer literacy program in a business/economics department designed to help students apply computer technology to their chosen fields rather than to develop special skills as programers or systems managers. Includes program goals/objectives and a list of computer programs (with brief descriptions) used in the various economics…

Two reports have been issued related to a survey of school uses of microcomputers. Summarizes several major findings, indicating that they are contrary to what many people think is happening in schools. Source for additional information and newsletter from the project conducting the survey is included. (JN)

Making Cryptograms is designed to give middle grade students practice in using the FIND and REPLACE features on their word processors. An activity sheet (which may be duplicated for class use) is provided. Instructional strategies are also provided. (JN)

Discusses a major, national plan (Fifth Generation Computer Systems) for Japan to become number one in the computer industry by the latter half of the 1990s. Includes comments on the likely success of and problems associated with the plan supported by Japan's Ministery of International Trade and Industry. (JN)

Provides rationale for introducing information technology courses in secondary schools. Discusses priorities (target audiences, time parameters, course topics, resources needed) to be considered before introducing such courses. The author's proposed course is outlined and discussed, consisting of historical/political, economic/social,…

Discusses a short computer program used in teaching the random (RND) function in the BASIC programming language. Focuses on the mathematical concepts involved in the program related to elementary probability. (JN)

The integration of computers into the school curriculum can be aided by collaborating with the technical and corporate community and developing strategies for systemwide cooperation, communication, and coordination. (Author/MLF)

Reviews an educationally valuable and reasonably well-designed simulation of volcanic activity in an imaginary land. VOLCANOES creates an excellent context for learning information about volcanoes and for developing skills and practicing methods needed to study behavior of volcanoes. (Author/JN)

Tod Hodgdon, a former math teacher, has no background in computer science yet manages to teach a popular programing course to first-time computer users. This article describes his teaching style and presents his views on computers in the schools. (Author/SJL)

Speech recognition by computers is discussed, including methods of recognizing isolated words and procedures for analyzing connected speech. Describes Bell Laboratories' speech recognition system which attempts to combine major elements of human communication into a single operating unit. (DS)

Clover Park School District has planned a two-year phased-in implementation of microcomputers. This article describes the successes and problems encountered in the first year of the program, which focused on teacher training. Journal availability: Educational Computer, P.O. Box 535, Cupertino, CA 95015. (SJL)

Details are provided about project SERAPHIM which is aimed at setting up a model system for dissemination of instructional materials in chemistry. Many of the instructional modules that will be handled by the project will be computer-based, with an emphasis on microcomputer-based materials. (MP)

Discusses mini/microcomputers in education including ways computers can be used in schools, computer literacy, positions for and against classroom use of computers, computers as agents of instruction (devices to deliver instruction), computers as objects of instruction (teaching about computers and computer programing), and including the author's…

Describes kinds of results achieved by computer programs in artificial intelligence. Topics discussed include heuristic searches, artificial intelligence/psychology, planning program, backward chaining, learning (focusing on Winograd's blocks to explore learning strategies), concept learning, constraint propagation, language understanding…

Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) in France is described, with three periods of development noted. It is felt teachers need to be motivated to use CAL. The current priority is seen to be teacher training, with secondary schools the focus. (MP)