In their Research Commentary, Kitchen and Berk (2016) argue that educational technology may focus only on skills for low-income students and students of color, further limiting their opportunities to learn mathematical reasoning, and thus pose a challenge to realizing standards-based reforms. Although we share the concern about equity and about…

Examines language arts software that is designed for use by young children. (FL)

This study assessed the effects of learning computer programing on children's cognitive style, metacognitive ability, cognitive development, and ability to describe directions. Eighteen children (age six) received one of two 12-week treatments: LOGO computer programing or computer-assisted instruction. Results indicated programing may influence…

Reviews research describing computer functions of construction-oriented computer environments and evaluates their contributions to students' learning of geometry. Topics discussed include constructing geometric concepts; the use of LOGO in elementary school mathematics; software that focuses on geometric construction; and implications for the…

This study assessed the effects of learning logo computer programing and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on specific cognitive skills, metacognitive skills, creativity, and achievement. The programing group scored significantly higher on measures of operational competence, two of three measures of metacognitive skills, and a measure of…

Describes the design principles behind a set of research-based software microworlds included in the "Building Blocks" program, a pre-kindergarten to grade 2 software-based mathematics curriculum. Discusses how to help children extend and mathematize their everyday activities and presents the nine-step design process model used.…

Educational technology can change the way children think, what they learn, and how they interact with peers and adults, or technology can teach the "same old stuff in the same old way." This paper examines computer use with young children and how computers can be used more effectively. The essay describes changes in the past decade in computer…

Reviews the research concerning young children's use of computers in terms of their social/emotional development (peer interaction and cooperation, peer teaching and helping, social and cognitive interaction, and attitudes), language skills (language development, prereading reading, and writing skills), and mathematical and problem-solving skills.…

Describes a series of programs written in Logo that have been used successfully to support young children's programing efforts. These programs remove the mechanical obstacles of typing, spelling, and estimating distances; remove the demands of abstract planning and ordering instruction; and provide a set of programing procedures. (MBR)

Naturalistic observation was used to investigate the occurrence of behaviors reflecting social competence and information processing in problem solving within educational computing environments. Forty-eight first and third graders were observed working in pairs on the computer. Findings indicate that a LOGO programing environment is superior to…

Reviews three studies on the effects of elementary school students' collaboration within the educational computer environments of LOGO, computer-assisted instruction, and computer-based instruction. Concludes that cooperative participation within LOGO fosters effectance motivation, information exchange, and conflict resolution that reflects…

The effects of the LOGO computer programing environment on creativity were studied for 73 8-year-old third graders (33 males and 40 females) who were tested before and after LOGO instruction. Overall, the LOGO group significantly outperformed a comparison group receiving non-LOGO creativity training and a nontreatment control group. (SLD)

Presented is a study which focused on using turtle graphics programing for geometric problem solving. The goal was to investigate changes in children's mathematical knowledge and results indicate that the LOGO environment enriched children's geometric conceptualizations and sophistication of their geometric thinking. (KR)

Reviews research involving the LOGO computer programming language and its effect on children's achievement in mathematics, language arts, and problem solving, as well as social-emotional development. Identifies some of the unique characteristics of LOGO that may contribute to student learning. (MDM)

Describes pseudoprimitives, a set of special procedures which allow traditional geometric topics to be used within the context of LOGO. Explains how these procedures can be extended and used in junior and senior high school geometry. (PK)