This paper speaks to the challenges, risks, and rewards of teaching about linear functions in a technology-rich environment from a constructivist perspective by describing a Foundations of Algebra class, which was designed and taught to junior high school students in such an environment in the summer of 1991. The design and implementation of the…

This paper discusses four areas in the psychology literature that have important implications for the instructional design of microcomputer-based simulations. The first one examined is cognitive structures, and the following suggestions for instructional design are offered: simulations should be appropriate for students' level of understanding;…

Examines secondary school student behavior in a computer assisted instruction course on transformational geometry which gave students option of selecting objectives within topics and then choosing either instruction or a test first. Results are discussed in terms of relationships between learner-control strategy, strategy consistency and…

Describes four models of the psychological process of reading, and relates them to computer technology. The physiological process of reading printed text from a display screen is discussed, including spacing, the configuration of letters, vision problems, and lighting and glare. The quality of computer printouts is also discussed. (41 references)…

Describes study that was designed to examine the impact of action and sound on preschool children's preferential selection and recall of verbal content presented in a computer microworld. Visual superiority and auditory superiority hypotheses are discussed, sex differences are examined, and results indicate the importance of including action. (29…

Reports on a study that examined different learning strategies used by 63 Field-independent (FI) people and Field-dependent (FD) international college students in a hypermedia assisted language learning setting. Findings that describe the different types of media, tools, and learning aids chosen by FI and FD students are reported. (27 references)…

This paper examines the cognitive processes associated with higher-order thinking strategies--i.e., cognitive processes directly associated with the employment of knowledge in the service of problem solving and creativity--in order to more clearly define a prescribed instructional method to improve problem-solving skills. The first section of the…

This literature review examines recent research on computers and learning for kindergarten through post secondary levels. The dominant areas of inquiry are: (1) effects on learning; (2) development of cognitive skills; (3) academic motivation and self-esteem; (4) effects of environmental factors on learners; and (5) research methodology. (111…

This collection of conference presentations contains 48 papers and 122 abstracts (for which there are no formal papers). The papers and abstracts are presented in two separate sections, but both are categorized by special interest groups: (1) Academic Computing (SIGAC, 1 paper, 9 abstracts); (2) Computer-Based Training (SIGCBT, 8 papers, 12…

The theme of the 31st Conference of the International Association for the Development of Computer-Based Instructional Systems (ADCIS) was "Creativity through Analogy." This collection of conference presentations contains 66 papers and 131 abstracts for which there are no formal papers. The papers and abstracts are presented in two separate…