A study was undertaken to determine whether PLATO would be used by the medical students at Mercer University and whether attitudes toward this type of computer-assisted instruction would prove generally positive; results indicated that students did utilize the system and that this use generated an overall favorable attitude. References are listed.…

Discusses seven factors to consider in deciding whether or not to build on AppleWorks and Apple II technology now that Apple Computer is developing little new software for the system. Factors include the impact of change on users and the existence of mail-order support services, which are listed in a sidebar. (KRN)

A survey instrument was developed to determine the status of microcomputers in the public schools of Louisiana. The instrument solicited information concerning the number of microcomputers in the schools, the manufacturers of the computers, and how the computers were being used in the school system. The survey was mailed to 66 districts in the…

The study attempts to identify critical issues in the implementation of microcomputers in special education through an indepth description of microcomputer use with mildly handicapped students in one school district. Few teachers had yet developed a stable pattern of computer use. Problems of access, training, and curriculum integration were…

A study of teachers in the United Kingdom's Open University who used a computer mediated communications system called Cosy in 1988 was conducted to document their experiences with and attitudes toward the system. The results of interviews and analysis of log sheets revealed that: (1) the sample of teachers (n=10) showed a range in usage of the…

Describes study that was conducted to determine the feasibility of networking home microcomputers with a university mainframe system in order to investigate a new family process research paradigm, as well as the design and function of the microcomputer/mainframe system. Test instrumentation is described and systems' reliability and validity are…

This study assesses the application of both minicomputers and microcomputers to information-handling procedures and makes recommendations for automating such procedures, particularly in developing nations. The report is based on a survey of existing uses of small computing equipment in libraries, archives, and information centers which was…

Discusses the use of optical disk technology in online searching and compares three versions of the ERIC database currently available on optical disk in terms of hardware requirements, ease of installation, scope and cost of the system, search procedures, displaying and printing results, and documentation and user support. (CLB)

"Cued Typing" is a computerized communication message preparation program, written for Apple II Plus, using frequency-based prediction algorithms and menu selection to reduce word cost while maintaining vocabulary flexibility. "Cued Typing" was more efficient than letter-by-letter typing, but word cost was still quite high, and…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of using an electronic bulletin board in an off-campus doctoral program (Ed.D.) for health professionals offered by the University of Georgia. Participants included 14 doctoral students (13 female and 1 male) enrolled in an advanced course, Research in Instruction, who received training in…

Although many view computers purely as technological tools to be utilized in the classroom and workplace, attention has been drawn to the social differences computers perpetuate, including those of race, class, and gender. This paper focuses on gender and computing by examining recent analyses in regards to content, form, and usage concerns. The…

This paper provides participant observations regarding the use of computer and broadcast television technology at a suburban public elementary school in Athens, Georgia during the 1995-1996 school year. The paper describes the hardware and software available in the school, and the use and misuse of computers and broadcast television in the…

A 4-month study was conducted to determine the feasibility and desirability of computer networks for instruction and educational administration in Alaska. Five major activities were carried out to collect the necessary information: (1) interviews with representatives of other Alaska government agencies; (2) a survey of district office staff; (3) a…

Reviews results of several studies on extent of sex discrepancy in microcomputer interest and usage in students, discusses possible occupational and economic effects when students enter the job market, and lists 29 possible explanations for observed differences in microcomputer usage by junior high school girls and boys. (MBR)

This paper presents the theoretical framework for a new course for teacher education. It describes how computers have been used in education and identifies factors that contribute to the unrealized potential of technology use in schools. This new course is consistent with a constructivist view of learning, new educational goals, and a view of the…