Using Excel, an interactive program is designed to simulate the Solow and endogenous growth models to facilitate the understanding of these models for students of growth theory and macroeconomics.

Item response theory (IRT) methodology is introduced as a tool for improving assessment instruments used with people who have disabilities. Need for this approach in rehabilitation is emphasized; differences between IRT and classical test theory are clarified. Concepts essential to understanding IRT are defined, necessary data assumptions are…

Shows how and why errors get introduced into examples in computer software documentation and what actions technical communicators can take to minimize this occurrence. Proposes a method to test examples. Suggests that technical writers can avoid these sources of error by creating and implementing a good test plan, maintaining and updating the…

This electronic utility promises to instantly deliver to the classroom a vast array of constantly updated instructional materials--software, textbooks, news services, video, databases, reference sources, word processing, and spreadsheet tools--and to bring all of technology's capabilities together into one integrated system. (Author)

The scaffolding metaphor was originally developed to describe the support given by a more expert individual in a one-on-one interaction. Since then, the notion of scaffolding has been applied more broadly, and it has been transformed and generalized. Most recently, it has been used by researchers in the learning sciences to describe features and…

This great tool for younger students from SparkSpace gives students a mapping tool to organize their ideas and convert to a text document ? all with a click of the mouse.

There has been much interest in using software tools to scaffold learners in complex tasks, that is, to provide supports that enable students to deal with more complex content and skill demands than they could otherwise handle. Many different approaches to scaffolding techniques have been presented in a broad range of software tools. I argue that…

Computers and synthesizers are being used to create new sounds that cannot be played on traditional instruments. Computers and instructional software are also helping to teach students to compose music, to analyze scores, to read music, and to do ear training drills. (MLW)

Powerful applications such as Microsoft Office's Excel and Word are widely used to perform common tasks in the workplace and in education. Scripting within these applications allows unanticipated user requirements to be addressed. We show that such extensibility, intended to support office automation-type applications, is well suited to the…

This paper describes a model for evaluating and acquiring instructionally effective and cost effective educational computer software in university psychology departments. Four stages in evaluating the software are developed: (1) establishing departmental goals and objectives for educational use of computers; (2) inventorying and evaluating…

This article presents teaching strategies based on research findings in the area of computer-based instruction (CBI). Research conclusions are presented in terms of five CBI characteristics in tabular form. CBI examples, derived from research conclusions, include: short reviews and age level and availability for specific software packages. (LMO)

Reports on the Scientific Reasoning Series--10 computer programs that make the nature of scientific reasoning accessible to a wider group of students. The aim of this material is to make improvements in scientific reasoning for all students over 10 years of age. The programs are highly interactive and are motivationally strong. About 20 hours of…

Effective evaluation of educational software is a key issue for successful introduction of advanced tools in the curriculum. This paper details to developing and evaluating a tool for computer assisted learning of science laboratory courses. The process was based on the generic instructional system design model. Various categories of educational…

This report is a collection of 11 recent papers by the Human-Machine Interaction Group at the University of California, San Diego. The following papers are included: (1) "Stages and Levels in Human-Machine Interaction," Donald A. Norman; (2) "The Nature of Expertise in UNIX," Stephen W. Draper; (3) "Users in the Real…

Focusing on ways in which Oregon educators have made use of computers, the 47 papers in this proceedings show substantial progress in some areas and point out some unanswered research, instructional, learning, and management questions. The contents are divided into three general areas: Curriculum Applications, Learning and Teaching, and Classroom…