Examines the advantages and disadvantages of using microcomputers in educational management, for instance in handling financial, personnel, or student data. Draws on a study by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium, to compare microcomputers to large computers and manual record keeping in school administration. (Author/RW)

Demonstrates methods of enhancing communication between computers and computer users in educational programs. Applies educational learning concepts to the design of software to improve user/machine interaction, especially for microcomputers. (Author/RW)

Reports on a four-year study of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in which microcomputers were used in individual college classrooms as interactive instructional systems. Discusses students' feelings about CAI, the computer hardware and software, and the lesson models involved. (Author/RW)

Discusses microcomputer uses for administrative computing in education at site level and central office and recommends that administrators start with a word processing program for time management, an electronic spreadsheet for financial accounting, a database management system for inventories, and self-written programs to alleviate paper…

An outline of microcomputer applications for administrative computing in education is followed by discussions of aspects of office automation, database management systems, management information systems, administrative computer systems, and software. Several potential problems relating to administrative computing in education are identified.…