This general introduction to educational uses of microcomputers provides basic information to assist educators, parents, and concerned citizens in implementing microcomputer programs in the schools. An overview and brief history of educational computing is followed by suggestions which emphasize the need for planning, including pitfalls to avoid,…

An evaluation form used at Ashland College (Ohio) for critical evaluation of educational software is presented. The form covers basic product information, program content, educational appropriateness, organizational and technical components, teacher's manual, and product revision. (MBR)

Findings are reported from 25 sites using the Individualized Study by Telecommunications (IST) program, an individualized, multi-media approach involving microcomputers which was designed to bring secondary education to small, isolated rural school districts in Alaska. This document summarizes the development and pilot-testing of the model,…

Aimed at decision makers who will choose whether and how to implement telecommunications efforts in the human services, this final evaluation report describes an intensive demonstration effort, which was conducted by the Alternate Media Center of New York University from July 1979 to September 1980 to show how various telecommunications media,…

A survey of 46 Arizona school districts revealed that the districts use computer assisted instruction most frequently in language courses; 37 percent of the responding districts use microcomputers, but 45 percent of all microcomputers are used in only one district; use of microcomputers is planned for both administration and instruction; and…

Offers thoughts concerning the difficulties school administrators face in choosing microcomputer equipment and software with technology improving so rapidly. General purpose software and specific applications are discussed, and a checklist of 18 questions for administrators to use during initial inquiries about software packages is included. (EJS)

This report summarizes a study on the impact of the introduction of microcomputers into the instructional programs of two elementary school districts in suburban Chicago that included an examination of teacher attitudes and feelings related to microcomputers. It describes the districts and the kinds of hardware and software they use and contrasts…

Designed to assist administrators in making intelligent decisions about microcomputer selection, this nontechnical guide provides information in three areas: how, where, when, and why to use a microcomputer; what questions to ask about software and hardware; and what terminology to use. It provides a framework for answering six questions the…

The report documents first year activities of the Educational Center for Disabled Students serving college students with a broad range of both physical and learning disabilities at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Center goals include improving student academic performance and attitudes through the use of computer technology and academic skills…

Discusses design and evaluation issues relating to computer managed instruction (CMI). Major functions described include establishing identification database, processing performance data, report formulation, and utility functions. Evaluation issues discussed include customized versus generic CMI, user-friendliness, documentation, data entry…

Designed to rate the degree of implementation and quality of all the major components of a computer applications program, this checklist may be used by school district staff to support a self-assessment process, or by an external consultant, to identify elements of the program that need improvement or further development. The following components…

A program referred to as Language Skills Computer Assisted Instruction (LaSCAI) was chosen to assist volunteer tutors in improving the reading skills of adults. The program was demonstrated at two libraries--one rural and one urban--and an evaluation was completed to determine its applicability in enhancing the on-going tutoring programs at these…

Developed to share information presented at a Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Regional Exchange (SEDL/RX) conference, this document includes reports and related materials on educational computing applications in southwestern school districts and states. Basic computer terminology is defined, and software evaluation instruments are…

This report describes a collection of procedures, with illustrative examples, for selecting and portraying microcomputer courseware in a manner that enables others to make their own judgments of courseware quality. Following a discussion of perspective and a report outline, section 3 deals with assumptions underlying the search to identify…

This manual describes the establishment and operation of a Computerphobia Reduction Program on a university campus which is directed by a licensed psychologist who trains and supervises graduate student interns to deliver three brief skills-acquisition modules. The manual describes the clinic facility, including staffing requirements; general…