Discussion of knowledge constructionism focuses on LEGO TC logo, a program that permits control of LEGO toys by means of a computer. A project for 9- and 10-year-old students that uses LEGO TC logo to develop concepts related to automatic control systems is explained. (three references) (LRW)

Discusses the role of the elementary school computer lab instructor and suggests that, for successful integration of computers into the curriculum, the role should change from teacher to consultant. Strategies of change are discussed in two main stages: educating teachers, followed by shifting responsibility from the lab instructor to the…

Discusses the effectiveness of using prompting in computer assisted instruction and time delay fading of such prompts to teach new skills to students who have difficulty learning by traditional methods. A CAI tutorial program which uses these techniques to teach time-telling skills is described. (MBR)

Presents five articles that consider computer keyboarding instruction at the elementary school level. Highlights include keyboard familiarization techniques that do not require a computer; integrating keyboarding skills into the rest of the curriculum; and Type-Right, an inexpensive laptop computer dedicated to teaching keyboarding. (LRW)

Explains the use of experimental poetry forms for decoding practice to help develop reading skills in elementary school students. The use of computers for word processing capabilities is discussed; seven forms of poetry are described; and results are examined in terms of motivation and the development of literacy. (four references) (LRW)

Discusses benefits of keyboarding instruction for elementary school students, emphasizing the integration of keyboarding with language arts instruction. Traditional typing and computer-assisted instruction are discussed, six software packages for adapting keyboarding instruction to the classroom are reviewed, and suggestions for software selection…

Discusses the introduction of one microcomputer into a fourth grade classroom to assist learners in achieving the goals already established by the teacher. Programs used were SPEED DRILL, for drill and practice of basic arithmetic with varying difficulty and speed, and CRITICAL READING, a program for logical thinking and comprehension. (EAO)

Discussion of the development of educational software for reading instruction focuses on seven misconceptions that reflect a misunderstanding of the reading process and a misapplication of the principles of instructional design to the teaching of reading. Highlights include electronic text versus printed text; sound-symbol correspondence;…

Describes a geometry database unit for elementary classrooms in which students determine geometric attributes of a variety of shapes, and then set up a database that can be used to answer questions about the figures. Activities described include creating a database record format, simulating searches, and applying search criteria strategies. (five…

Describes an activity for elementary school students that allows them to manipulate computer hardware. College students volunteered as trainers; and two workstations were used, one to teach students how to attach peripheral devices (e.g., keyboard, monitor, and printer) and one to teach how to remove a disk drive and the controller card. (LRW)

Describes the participation of a small Catholic school near Philadelphia in the AT&T Learning Circles Project, which involved networking with schools in several states. The integration of the telecommunications project with the language arts curriculum is discussed, including creative writing about local food and historic places to share with…

Describes a project developed for fifth graders that was designed to teach them about databases through collecting information for a community census. Activities supported by the census project are listed, including both noncomputer activities and computer activities; and an effective sequence of instruction with databases is discussed. (LRW)

A curriculum to enhance computer literacy in grades K-8 is presented, which covers the areas of computer awareness, computer interaction skills, social sciences, language arts, science, and mathematics. Student tasks are outlined with suggested grade levels for skills to be introduced, expanded, and reinforced. (EJS)

Describes a program that used the concept of cross-age tutoring to introduce computers to kindergarten students with the help of sixth graders. The use of FunWriter and other software is described, the importance of graphics is emphasized, and benefits to both groups of students are discussed. (LRW)

Provides an overview of information technology (IT) in primary schools in the United Kingdom. The national curriculum is explained, including attainment targets for IT; examples of activities using computers in the classroom are described; the need for adequate inservice teacher education is discussed; and future possibilities are considered. (LRW)