The history of instructional multimedia systems development includes many difficulties--authorial uncertainty about how to order concepts, the misplaced focus of so-called "intelligent tutors," the sometimes disconcerting proliferation of products, and financial constraints. Against this background, this paper discusses the project which…

Like a table of contents in print material, a computer-presented menu presents information. It informs a user of the topics that are available. Some menus present information by categories and thus communicate the organization as well as the content of the program. In addition to providing information, menus serve as a selection and retrieval…

This document reports on an examination of the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of an interactive computer program. The program is called an expert system adviser, and is for tourists planning on visiting Thailand. The expert system contains well-organized information that provides detailed coverage of Thailand. The…

Recommending that communication students be required to learn to use computers not merely as number crunchers, word processors, data bases, and graphics generators, but also as logical inference makers, this paper examines the recently developed technology of logical programing in computer languages. It presents two syllogisms and shows how they…

This paper presents five designs (three one-group and two two-group) which can be effectively employed to study computer-based methods in non-laboratory settings, including actual classroom implementation, where a non-treatment control design may not be feasible. These designs are sequential analysis, value-added analysis, non-equivalent dependent…

Intended for administrators and policy makers as well as teachers, this digest identifies for prospective purchasers various sources that offer reviews of educational computer software for English and the language arts. Following an introduction, the first section of the digest discusses content-specific as well as general educational computing…

Intended for administrators and policy makers as well as teachers, this digest offers selection strategies for consumers of English/language arts computer software. Following the introduction, the digest discusses initial considerations when evaluating software, including examining both the accompanying documentation and the actual program. It…

Integrating computer-based learning tools into the curriculum has been slow, and the results of actual usage have been inconclusive; however, the potential for effective instruction should increase use by teachers and students. This ERIC Digest discusses three topics: (1) computer use in the classroom; (2) what is known about the effects of…

This paper describes SEF.ASSISTANT, a special software shell for authoring languages to be used in the development of courseware serving computer based education (CBE). The capabilities of SEF.ASSISTANT are identified: (1) it will generate programs written in the IBM SEF.PC authoring language; (2) it is compatible with external standard software…

The report presents findings and materials developed in an investigation of the value of microcomputers and specially designed software materials in mathematics instruction with 90 learning disabled, emotionally impaired, and mentally retarded students in elementary, middle school and high school classes. Ss were divided into three groups:…

Fiscal and monetary policies taught in macroeconomic principles courses are concepts that might require both lecture and simulation methods. The simulation models, which apply the principles gleened from comparative statistics to a dynamic world, may give students an appreciation for the problems facing policy makers. This paper is a report of a…

Microcomputers can be used with simulation software to provide students both with experience in the "real world" of decision making and feedback on the decisions made. Such software allows individual students to choose the roles they wish to play from a menu of diverse roles and provides alternatives for them to consider for each decision to be…

The paper reviews international research on computer assisted learning (CAL) for special populations and examines the issue in terms of the Canadian policy perspective. Data collection techniques included interviews and field observations with researchers, manufacturers, and policy makers. A generic model is proposed for special education computer…

The paper is intended to help rehabilitation professionals use computer hardware and software in serving their clients and improving their professional associations and practices. Four types of computer applications are addressed (examples in parentheses): (1) assistive devices (environmental control systems, writing devices); (2) software to help…

This paper proposes the idea that in smaller countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, computer-assisted education may be creating an era of neo-colonialism in education. The paper discusses the problems of attempting to develop and maintain intellectual and cultural independence in an age of high technology. In countries such as Australia…