The paper describes the informatics curriculum (the study of computer hardware and software as a tool in problem solving) in a special school for gifted children in South Africa. The program's aims (including development of a structured approach to general problem solving and stimulation of pupil interest in technology) are listed and discussed. A…

Recounts instances of computer use to teach English composition and poetry to college students and concludes that it is impossible to be a department chair these days without knowing something about a computer. (NKA)

The question of whether to teach computer programming to elementary and secondary students has been widely debated. This study examines the relationship between computer programming experience, mathematics experience, and general variable skill. The sample consisted of 46 students (aged 9 to 17) at a summer computer camp. The programming level was…

The use of the modern computer has revolutionized the field of educational research. Software packages are currently available that allow almost anyone to analyze data efficiently and rapidly. Yet, caution must temper the widespread acceptance and use of these programs. It is recommended that the researcher not rely solely on the use of…

This report presents preliminary descriptive data from a national survey of U.S. elementary schools, conducted in 1985, which focused on the schools' instructional uses of computers, including efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Specific topic areas covered include: (1) what hardware is in different types of schools; (2) which teachers use the…

Research directed toward a better understanding of the computer user/computer machine relationship has increased in recent years. To identify what factors may predict success in computer programming, 286 college students from three computer classes (160 from introductory programming; 60 from Cobol programming; and 66 from senior level programming)…

The development of a powerful learning environment aiming at the acquisition and transfer of general thinking skills through learning to program in LOGO was studied. The following conditions were sought: (1) sufficient knowledge of the LOGO primitives and concepts; (2) mastery of the thinking skills within the programming context; and (3) explicit…

This narrative depicts how one university utilized doctoral interns to aid in the transition of a student management system from manual to computerized student records. Findings included the statement that the benefits gained from a computerized student records system outweigh the pain of the conversion process for all personnel using the student…

Use of a computer programming language in problem-solving activities provides an opportunity to examine how young children use a restricted set of language primitives. The generation, and execution of computer instructions was used as a verification stage in the problem-solution process. The metric is intended to provide a descriptive…

Turtle graphics is a popular vehicle for introducing children to computer programming. Children combine simple graphic commands to get a display screen cursor (called a turtle) to draw designs on the screen. The purpose of this study was to examine young children's abilities to function in a simple computer programming environment. Four- and…

Discusses several rationales for the use of computers in elementary and secondary schools, and describes differences in policies and needs in developing and industrial countries. Topics discussed include computer literacy; programing; computer-assisted instruction; student record keeping; administrative functions; industry's interests; cost…

This paper reviews the current role of microcomputers as either a cognitive or sensory prosthesis, and evaluates their potential for meeting the learning needs of exceptional students. In the area of declarative learning, computers are used for drill and practice, tutoring, and "intelligent' tutoring. In the area of procedural learning,…