Discusses the dissatisfaction of teachers with using computers in the classroom and argues that the problem is not the computers themselves, but rather the deplorable state of educational software. (SRT)

In today's complex computer-based teaching (CBT)/computer-assisted instruction market, flashy presentations frequently prove the most important purchasing element, while instructional design and content are secondary to form. Courseware purchasers must base decisions upon either a vendor's presentation or some published evaluator rating.…

Describes the inadequacies of the current software for computer-based instruction, and presents a framework of instructional components to guide the design of such software. A taxonomy of design considerations is then discussed, including instructional context, strategies, and technical capabilities that can be used to enhance instruction. (4…

Intended for teachers, this digest shows that the computer can offer many efficient tools for expression, student control of writing, and instruction beyond the grammar and spelling drills most commonly associated with computers. The digest discusses the goals of the language arts curriculum, the role of the computer in the language arts…

The videodisc, audiodisc, overlapping instruction, mapping, adaptive testing strategies, intricate instructional branching, and complex media selection models are common expectations for quality courseware today. A two team development structure, consisting of an instructional development team and a test development team, is proposed. This paper…

Describes how to create "cloze" lessons from student writing using FrEdWriter computer software. (SR)

This paper discusses the types of computer software that are most effective in a classroom. Detailed descriptions are given of: (1) drill and practice programs; (2) tutorials; (3) simulations; and (4) games and problem-solving software. The effectiveness of each is discussed as well as the characteristics of a good program of its genre. An example…

This package from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) describes projects undertaken by TVA's Skills Development Program, an effort to help national, state, and local officials improve education. The program includes several futuristic instructional labs that TVA helped to design and install in Morgan County, Tennessee. Instructional labs have…

A comparison of the effectiveness of different ways to organize instructional materials and different strategies for error feedback used the computer as a research tool and took as subjects first-year junior high school Spanish students, who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. To investigate materials organization, computer…

This article aims to help parents of gifted children plan children's experiences using home computers, select quality software, and decide when to expose children to more advanced computer training. Potential problems such as student feelings of isolation are discussed, as well as drawbacks of software emphasizing drill repetition over concept…

A project to convert part of a Chinese language course ("Standard Chinese: A Modular Approach") to the PLATO computerized teaching system is reported. The project involved: (1) transcribing all the first sequence audiotapes for the first six instructional modules (these tapes present the material of each lesson); (2) rewriting the lesson…

This self-training package is designed to help microcomputer users select appropriate and efficient educational software packages by using a software evaluation system. It is mainly designed for school teachers and parents. The system consists of a Criteria Rating Form (CRF) and a personal evaluation. The CRF--a five-point scale from excellent to…

Presents objections to the use of special-purpose computer languages for authoring courseware and recommends use of authoring procedures with a general-purpose language (in this case PASCAL). Highlights include problems in designing computer assisted instruction, developments in educational theory, a summary of modern authoring languages, and…

Identifies problems with much of the early drill and practice software, and describes the development of a software package designed to assist with mastery learning in chemistry. The discussion covers features of the different programs and their effect on student performance. (CLB)

Reports on the state of the art in software development for computer-assisted language instruction, with some emphasis on Russian, and describes 10 areas in which much current software is deficient. It is suggested that our best teachers be given time to work in teams to develop good software. (Author/SED)