Addressing writing instruction for students with special needs, this annotated bibliography contains 26 references of articles and papers in the ERIC database. The citations in the first section discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using word processors in writing instruction with learning disabled (LD) students and suggest instructional…

In order to evaluate an experimental writing program involving word processors as tools, a study examined the use of cloze techniques as a method for indicating reading progress as it relates to writing. Subjects, 87 Canadian primary school children, were involved in a three-year longitudinal study of the effects of this experimental writing…

Many computerized educational activities are controlled by the student as well as by the hardware or software being used. When the student can make decisions that will affect the responses of the computer, the computer becomes a tool for exploration and is not merely a vehicle for delivering instruction. Some of the activities that involve student…

This compilation of articles on computer applications in writing instruction deals with the areas of prewriting, editing and grammar, word processing research and applications, and programs for the writing process. It contains the following papers: "Recollections of First-Generation Computer-Assisted Prewriting," by Hugh Burns; "Computer-Based…

Intended for use by both elementary and secondary school teachers, this booklet is designed to answer questions instructors might have as they consider integrating microcomputers into their writing programs. Following a brief introductory section, the second section of the booklet reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using computers in the…

The value of using a word processor and its features which help English as a second language students improve their writing are discussed, including student assessment, possible teaching methods, and possible learning activities. (CB)

Discusses text displayed on computer screens and examines the effects of three layout variables--justification, line length, and leading--on reading speed and comprehension. Current literature on each variable is reviewed, and implications for the design of computer-based instruction are presented. (Author/LRW)

Describes Graphics Project for Foreign Language Learning at the University of Pennsylvania, which has developed ways of displaying foreign scripts on microcomputers. Character design on computer screens is explained; software for graphics, printing, and language instruction is discussed; and a text editor is described that corrects optically…

Reviews the use of computers in the teaching and practice of writing in university courses. Highlights include hardware considerations; software options for grammar, punctuation, stylistic analysis, and prewriting (or invention) skills; artificial intelligence, composition, and literature; collaborative learning; and faculty development. (LRW)

A survey of high school and higher education teachers' (N=208) attitudes regarding the use of computers for Spanish-composition instruction revealed that: the lack of foreign-character support remains the major frustration; most teachers used Apple or IBM computers; and there was mixed opinion regarding the real versus the expected benefits of…

Results of a survey of 298 special education/teacher education programs indicated that: (1) the institutions were not utilizing available technology; (2) there was no relationship between systematic planning and success of new technology; (3) and the most common technology adopted was microcomputers used for computer-assisted instruction and word…

Describes how the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. State Department has used the Xerox STAR Multilingual computer/word processing system to produce innovative language study materials for 40 different languages in a timely and cost-effective manner. (SED)

Discusses computer editing and describes the capacities and features of an integrated software package, Writer's Workbench. Suggests ways in which this program can be used to improve writing skills. Reviews the effects of this program on technical users, college students, and high school students. (ML)

Outlines strategies for running a successful faculty workshop dealing with computers, such as: (1) make participation optional; (2) focus only on what an instructor needs to know to write and teach using a computer; (3) give word processing instruction individually; (4) present computer uses as possibilities, not as correct answers; and (5)…

Reviews the development of computing in the arts in the United Kingdom as a case study, and discusses some of the implications of the recent increase in the use of computers in the humanities in colleges and universities. (Author/MBR)