Observation of young children is commonplace in educational settings. For trainee practitioners however, gaining access at convenient times can be difficult. Even then, small snapshots of observable activity can only ever be captured. We describe the design and development of a cross-platform software application which can be used to support…

This research aims to explore the role of physical representations in young children's numerical learning then identify the benefits of using a graphical interface in order to understand the potential for developing interactive technologies in this domain. Three studies are reported that examined the effect of using physical representations…

Preschool children can benefit by working with microcomputers. Thinking skills are enhanced by software games that focus on logic, memory, problem solving, and pattern recognition. Counting, sequencing, and matching games develop mathematics skills, and word games focusing on basic letter symbol and word recognition develop language skills.…

This article focuses on research findings concerning the relationship between young children's computer use in the classroom and constructivist education. Three ways of using computers emerged: computers as books or workbooks; computers for word processing; and computer programming of graphics. It was concluded that word processing was most…

Describes LOGO, an educational computing language designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for use by young children in developing problem-solving skills. The structure of LOGO, the drawing operations possible using the LOGO "Turtle," LOGO as a learning environment, and the educational philosophy underlying LOGO are…

Examines research on computers as cognitive enhancers, focusing on applications software that includes spreadsheets, graphing, and databases. Appropriate computer-based problem-solving environments for young children are reviewed, and implications for teachers are suggested. (Contains eight references.) (LRW)

Parents and children interacted with computer-based representations of a park, one with animated picture graphics and one with digitized full motion video. Children who interacted with the digitized representation replayed the program more and showed a stronger cognitive focus on the representation than did the other children. (LB)

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)

Describes a study that investigated the performance of preschoolers and children in the first three years of formal education on tasks that involved skills using a mouse-based control of a graphical computer interface. The children's performance is compared with that of novice adult users and expert users. (five references) (LRW)

Describes a two-year Canadian project devoted to the development and formative evaluation of a graduated series of four graphics-based programing environments for young children, called pre-Logo Microworlds. Field tests of software and instructional materials are described, and classroom observations and teacher and student interviews are…

Explores children's systems of combining drawing, talk, and writing (i.e., symbol-weaving) with traditional media and with new information technology. Social aspects of writing are discussed, and new information technology is examined, including clip art software, word processing, graphics, color, hypermedia, CD-ROM, and microworlds. (23…

Discusses some of the possibilities for using Apple II computers to teach young children basic skills and enhance their computer literacy. Reviews 14 pieces of software from seven different publishers. Provides the name and address of the publisher, along with a description of each program and its capabilities. (TW)