Some school administrators may feel that initial investments in instructional computing programs were sufficient, and that the programs do not merit continued support. Information on fund allocation for outstanding instructional computing programs can be useful to the "typical" school administrator seeking advice on how best to allocate the…

A project involving the evaluation of microcomputer courseware being marketed for school use was conducted in the Microcomputer Resource Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, during 1982 with funding from the Exxon Education Foundation. Every courseware package was evaluated by a team which included a subject matter expert, an…

A comparison between teacher and computer delivered instruction was conducted with 17 children (ages 4 to 14 years) with severe learning and behavior problems. The investigation was intended to analyze the stimulus functions of the presence of a teacher in the task-demand situation. The task employed was a two-choice discrimination that became…

This paper discusses media comparison studies and reasons that research of this nature is pursued, especially in the area of computer-based interactive video (CBIV). Three scenarios are presented to demonstrate instances in which the knowledge of the relative effectiveness of CBIV is important and useful: (1) the case of the administrator who…

Author's purpose is to describe the nature and capabilities of the computer as an instructional device and to suggest an approach by which the potential of the computer might be evaluated. (Author/MB)

Results of a project at the University of Nebraska--Lincoln showed that computer-assisted instruction (using the PLATO system) and tutorial methods were somewhat more effective than the traditional library orientation tour for teaching card catalog skills, but that cost-benefit considerations restrict their further development for large-scale use.…

Describes a study that used meta-analysis to compare the academic achievement during a 12-year period of secondary students who were instructed through traditional methods, traditional methods supplemented with computer-assisted instruction (CAI), or CAI alone. Results were compared with earlier research and indicate that the effect of CAI on…

Describes various configurations of computer equipment that can be used in public schools. Labs with multiple computers, one computer in a classroom, and minilabs (with three or four computers on a mobile cart) are compared for cost effectiveness, cooperative learning possibilities, instructional effectiveness, usage, security, and flexibility.…

Ten male elementary school students identified as behaviorally handicapped practiced answering math fact problems in both paper-and-pencil and computer-assisted drill and practice programs to assess efficiency of both techniques. Results indicate that students reached criterion levels faster with pencil and paper, and expressed a preference for…

Describes study conducted to assess the ability of first grade students to interpret and use computer-generated pictures. Differences in physical attributes between computer-generated and traditional picture formats and their effect on children's ability to interpret and process information contained in the pictures are discussed. (six references)…

Compared two kindergarten classrooms for variance in computer use. Found no significant difference in computer use by sex or age, but a significant increase in computer use by classroom in the second half of the 12-week project compared to the first half. Found no significant difference in the software selected. (HTH)

Compares the effects on the knowledge structure of the learners of using two different Mindtools--semantic networks and rule-based expert systems--for representing the content of a course. Results showed that students in the semantic network class possessed more hierarchical knowledge structures than the other group. (Contains 29 references.) (JLB)

Determined if college students learn better when using lecture/CAI than by using the conventional lecture method to present visually oriented material. Results indicated no significant difference between the test groups in amount of learning; also, it took longer to present examples to the control group than for the treatment group to absorb…

Discusses mediated learning experiences with young children and describes a study of Israeli kindergartners that attempted to improve their analogical thinking through the use of a specially designed computer program. Treatments of the experimental and control groups are described, and measures used to assess analogical reasoning are explained.…

Provides information on software tools, technologies, strategies for evaluation, and factoring-in teaching considerations. Also included is an extensive review of computer-assisted language learning materials and a software evaluation questionnaire. (16 references) (GLR)