This paper reports on a project where three-dimensional (3D) online gaming environments were exploited for the purpose of academic communication and learning. 3D gaming environments are media and meaning rich and can provide inexpensive solutions for educational purposes. The experiment with teaching and discussions in this setting, however,…

ToonTalk is an animated interactive world inside of which one can construct a very large range of computer programs. These programs are not constructed by typing text or arranging icons, but by taking actions in this world. Robots can be trained, birds can be given messages to deliver, and so on. This paper describes the design and preliminary…

Examines design and evaluation of computer-based role-playing. University students (n=41) were divided into two groups to use instructional programs with and without computer-based role-playing. Findings indicated that computer-based role-playing enhanced interpersonal skills development by employing a conversational model, offering opportunities…

Discusses uses of the microcomputer in elementary mathematics education. Included are: (1) drill; (2) practice; (3) problem solving; and (4) games. (YP)

Discusses characteristics of software that teachers should consider when selecting software, and reviews programs of good quality for use in elementary and/or secondary classes. Instructional design considerations and the amount of time required for a program are discussed, and games, tutorials, simulations, and drill and practice software are…

Whether gender differences in performance using computer software are due to sex stereotyping or gender differentiation in the programs was investigated in two studies. An adventure game, "King and Crown," with all male characters, and a gender neutral game, "Honeybears," were played by 26 female and 26 male 11- and…

This study investigated the effect of informational, drill, and game format computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on the achievement, retention, and attitude toward instruction of sixth-grade science students (N=37). An informational CAI lesson on Halley's Comet was administered to three randomly selected groups of sixth-grade students. A CAI drill…

Presents results of a survey of British secondary school students which was conducted to obtain information about microcomputer use both in school and at home. Highlights include gender differences, students' attitudes toward computers, experience with computers, assessment of programming ability, and characteristics of competent programmers. (LRW)

This study investigated whether kindergarten students who played Sony Play Station (Lightspan) computer games learned better than peers who did not play such games. Participants were 47 African-American kindergartners from two classes of an urban school in the Northeast. A pretest and posttest with control group design was used in the study. The…

Shared virtual worlds are innovative applications where several users, represented by Avatars, simultaneously access via Internet a 3D space. Users cooperate through interaction with the environment and with each other, manipulating objects and chatting as they go. Apart from in the well documented online action games industry, now often played…

This paper presents a cognitive theory of multimedia learning from which predictions on individual differences in learning are derived and tested. Elementary students learned how to add and subtract integers with an interactive multimedia game that included visual and symbolic representations of the arithmetic procedure. They learned either with…

Describes an empirical study of the effect of computer game practice on the improvement of skills that are related to visual perception in young children. Treatment of experimental and control groups of kindergarten children in Israel are described, and recommendations for the use of computer games versus educational games are given. (23…

Describes the use of "Happy Hands" instructional materials and techniques for grades K-3 develop keyboarding knowledge and skills for computer-assisted instruction. Color coding techniques are explained; the use of dictation is discussed; keyboarding games and software are described; and the development of writing skills through…

Offers an evaluation of the computer simulation game "SimCity." Suggests possible uses for the game at different age and experience levels. Recommends the program as challenging, humorous, and an excellent aid in teaching about the problems and solutions facing city government. Explains that students serve as public officials. (DK)

Since 1993, the Critical Thinking Cooperative (TC2) has initiated projects with school districts and universities throughout British Columbia. To date, the main emphasis has been on social studies, with the exception of some recent work in language arts. This paper investigates the application of the TC2 model of critical thinking to computers,…