Computer-assisted learning in numeracy for adults is far less developed than computer-assisted learning in literacy. Although a great many software programs exist, few are suitable for adults and many offer only drill and practice exercises instead of teaching genuine computer skills. One approach instructors can take is to have their students use…

In response to critics' charges that use of the word processor may have a detrimental effect on writing, this study identified and analyzed 20 published studies that used experimental and control groups to compare conventional writing instruction (using handwriting) with instruction using the word processor. Five types of outcomes were analyzed:…

Word processors can enhance the reading and writing skills of underprepared college students in a special course combining reading and writing. Word processors may serve such a course in many ways: (1) storing and retrieving students' own unpublished resource materials; (2) moving large blocks of writing at the flick of a finger; (3) serving as…

The purpose of this notebook is to assist educators who are designing and implementing inservice education programs to facilitate the effective use of computer integrated instruction (CII) in schools. It is divided into the following five sections: (1) Effective Inservice (a brief summary of inservice literature focused on inservice dimensions and…

This curriculum guide is designed to assist teachers and supervisors in introducing middle and high school students to the MS DOS computer and its functional application software in word processing, database management, and spreadsheet analysis. The guide begins by introducing students to computers: when and how they are used, hardware and…

Based on the general lack of empirical evidence on the effects of word processors on writing quality, a study focused on changes in writing quality and syntax of first-year college writers who were taught to use word processors as part of their English composition class. The issue addressed was whether using word processors increased the syntactic…

Intended to help educators choose the most appropriate word processing products for elementary school writing instruction, this report provides extensive information on 12 word processor and 13 writing activity software products. A list of components, general descriptions, comments and evaluations are included for each product. The products…

Intended to help educators choose the most appropriate word processing products for elementary school writing instruction, this report provides information about 12 word processor software products and 13 writing activity products. These products and the writing activities they use are as follows: (1) Bank Street Writer III (Activity Files,…

A study examined the extent to which computers affect the writing process. In order to test several hypotheses about writing with a computer 15 experienced writers wrote persuasive letters under four conditions--using pen and paper once and a computer the other three times. All of the subjects were experienced with computers having worked daily or…

Addressing the question of how computers can assist language development, this discussion paper presents a broad overview of the potential for computer use across the elementary school language arts curriculum. It begins by listing several questions that must be considered when assessing the usefulness of computers within the language curriculum,…

To help those who find themselves resisting microcomputers and those who have already made a decision to begin using the new technology, this paper summarizes the ways microcomputers can increase the flexibility, efficiency, impact, organization, information access, and creativity of those in the field of communication. Following an overview of…

A study at a small southwestern suburban school examined specific process variables which occurred as children were taught composition skills using word processing, word processing with voice synthesis, and no word processing. Subjects were 45 second grade students, who were divided into three groups on the basis of scores on a reading…

To examine the effects of word processing on basic writers, a pilot study compared two classes of basic writers (40 students)--one class using word processors and one class using handwriting--at Glenville State College in West Virginia. At the beginning of the semester, students from both sections wrote one explanatory essay and one persuasive…

This study compared the effectiveness of the use of computer-based training (CBT) and instructor-based training (IBT) to train teaching assistants how to use the word processing program Microsoft Word. Thirteen faculty, staff, and graduate student volunteers served as subjects and were randomly assigned to either the computer-based or…

This review focuses on microcomputer software designed to improve the writing skills of students of English as a Second Language (ESL) at the college level. It presents a case for the use of computers in teaching ESL, provides guidelines and suggestions for evaluating or creating software and programs, and reviews representative software,…