Discusses advantages and limitations of database software in meeting the educational objectives of history instruction; reviews five currently available computer programs (FACTFILE, QUEST, QUARRY BANK 1851, Census Analysis, and Beta Base); highlights major considerations that arise in designing such programs; and describes their classroom use.…

Provides a sample course outline and discussion of database use in college history instruction. Based on the use of DBASE II, this article includes a two-page listing of books and articles written to help people use DBASE II and III. (JDH)

This article reports results of a case study of text-based online and CD-ROM databases that identified design characteristics that are important to high school students' use for higher-level learning as well as for information access and retrieval. Implications for the design of databases are suggested. (Contains 62 references.) (LRW)

Urges history teachers to look into the range of tasks they can perform with word processing, database/file managers, and other software. Concludes there are numerous pedagogical uses for computers besides generating short answer tests. (Author/BSR)

Examines three aspects of computer technology that allow learners to develop cognitive and metacognitive skills and that facilitate learner autonomy: database organization in a self-access facility, computer-assisted language learning, and the use of menus to organize programs and files. An argument is made that technology should neither control…

Describes hypertext, a significantly different form of data retrieval, and gives an example of how it might be used in computer-based training. Hypertext software is discussed, including TextPro and KnowledgePro; the relationship between hypertext and expert systems is explored; and a hypertext document, PC-Hypertext, is described. (LRW)

Discussion of software evaluation for computer assisted instruction focuses on the Computer Courseware Evaluation Model (CCEM), developed at the University of South Florida. Criteria for reliability and validity are discussed, and areas of concern in software are addressed, including cost and presentation characteristics, instructional…

Discusses the use of computers in music and music education. Topics discussed include the use of computers to assist in music composition and performance; changing employment opportunities for studio musicians; multimedia applications, including high resolution graphics; editing and publishing music; and database projects. (14 references) (LRW)

In examining microcomputer uses in education, consideration must be given to hardware, software, and most importantly, the people who will use them. The educational software market is being affected by hardware manufacturers, educational publishers, independent software houses, user groups, and classroom teachers. Each of these groups has clearly…

This paper explores three components of academic computing--programming, productivity tools, and computer-based education--by reviewing the past, evaluating the present, and considering the future possibilities of the field. It is suggested that the future growth of academic computing depends upon the resolution of a number of issues: (1)…

Describes available forms of laserdisk technology and discusses the current status of equipment standards and a common retrieval engine. The potential application of laserdisk technology to legal information management is discussed in the areas of research, writing, forms management, law library storage, litigation support, records management,…

No culture in the world's history has been so consumed with controlling the future's course, and conversely, so unconcerned with discovering meaning from the past. The provocative challenge of a future which will bring fulfillment to the American educational system is compelling. The future for school library media programs must amount to…

Describes Datamondo, an instructional package that introduces the use of a newspaper database in humanities teaching at the secondary level in Italy. The effectiveness of the package in developing basic linguistic skills and as a research tool is evaluated. (8 references) (Author/CLB)

Joseph Weizenbaum (author of the computer program ELIZA) discusses his views about educational computing, pointing out why he is not convinced that children below the tenth grade benefit from the introduction of computers into the curriculum, and why larger educational issues must be addressed. (JN)

Presents four sets of natural language processing-based exercises for which error correction and feedback are produced by means of a rich database in which linguistic information is encoded either at the lexical or the grammatical level. (Author/VWL)