Discusses ideas and trends in computer software and hardware. For example, how a social studies teacher successfully marketed his own tutorial software programs is examined; economics software programs developed by university teams are described; and the computer "give-away" to induce educators to use the computer is discussed. (CS)

In this interview, Donald L. Bitzer, the inventor of the PLATO instructional software system, speculates on the ways in which the computer will affect human society in the near future, with special emphasis on the impact of computers on the labor force, on education, and on family life. (Author/JL)

Compares 1981 and 1982 national data on numbers of microcomputers in schools and school districts, including by district poverty level. Describes computer uses in instruction, management, and computer literacy in 13 districts in eight states--New York, Maryland, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, and California. (RW)

More than 2000 social studies professionals attended the 62nd annual meeting of the National Council for the Social Studies. The conference theme was "The Future and the American Dream." Excerpts from papers presented, descriptions of workshop presentations, and summaries of what transpired at special sessions and committee meetings are…

Over 50 major computer assisted instruction (CAI) projects are reviewed in terms of their theoretical and practical significance to education. Projects are analyzed in terms of eight categories: development of prototypes, conceptual demonstrations, major implementations/evaluations, dissemination, authoring languages/systems, intelligent CAI,…

The Prescott (Arizona) Unified School District No. 1 has developed a computer literacy program which reaches from the fourth-grade to the senior high school level. It emphasizes: (1) learning the history of computers; (2) understanding their influence on society; (3) teaching about current and potential uses; and (4) understanding how computers…

Prospects for a national policy for computer use in Dutch education are reviewed based on stated educational objectives. Resources and their allocation will greatly influence whether the emphasis is placed on specialized education in information science or computer literacy in all fields of study. (MSE)

A curriculum to enhance computer literacy in grades K-8 is presented, which covers the areas of computer awareness, computer interaction skills, social sciences, language arts, science, and mathematics. Student tasks are outlined with suggested grade levels for skills to be introduced, expanded, and reinforced. (EJS)

Outlines processes by which the Florida Department of Education, as a result of official state policy, provides services to computer-using educators in public schools in such areas as courseware selection and evaluation, distribution of computing materials, inservice training, programing planning and development, hardware selection and purchase,…

Presents highlights from the "Wingspread Conference on Microcomputers in Education," held to evaluate the role of microcomputers in instruction and to develop guidelines for the introduction and use of this new technology in the elementary and middle grades. (Author/MLF)

Teachers often lack time to integrate technology instruction into an already overloaded academic program. A science teacher at a Geneva international school describes a successful program for encouraging and developing computer use and literacy at the secondary level. One solution is to employ a special science computing coordinator to investigate…

Presents ideas for encouraging teachers' technology use: create video illusions; challenge teachers to an online personality test; get staff e-mail accounts; encourage students/staff to e-mail relatives and friends; give seminars on multitask/multimedia programs; help students create newsletters; print holiday letters; search the Web for topics;…

Recounts the journey of three literacy teachers learning about classroom use of computers and developing a computer-driven unit on Australian animals. Describes the learning process--the teachers wanted their students to have positive experiences with computers. States that, as a result of the experience, an interactive unit was developed that…

Experiences in the English department of the State University of New York College at Potsdam illustrate the ways in which writing teachers can use even minimal computer technology for instructional intervention at several stages of the writing process and provide more individualized instruction. Familiarity with the technology breeds innovation.…

Presents five puzzles in the shape of stars that contain scrambled letters and clues to help define computer terms and improve computer literacy. Use of the puzzles by students and adults in the computer labs of library media centers is discussed. Answers to the puzzles are also provided. (LRW)