First of a series of articles that focus on the use of the microcomputer as a tool in school management. Discusses the existing use of microcomputers in the school business office. (Author/MLF)

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 (Illinois) is currently using a Digital PDP-11/70 computer system and administrative software to handle administrative functions with ease and efficiency. These functions include production of reports and payroll, student scheduling, reporting grades and student progress, and maintaining student…

Integrated software is available to help with many of the small- to medium-sized school's management tasks requiring data analysis. Typical integrated programs include spreadsheet, database, graphing, and word processing components and cost less than the price of all the components purchased separately. (PGD)

This second version of a computerized school records system utilizing punch cards was developed by high school students under faculty guidance. Not only is it inexpensive to use, but it is tailored to the needs of a particular school and, therefore, responsive to its needs. Detailed step by step instructions are provided for utilizing the system.…

EDUCATION HAS BEEN SLOW IN FULLY UTILIZING ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (EDP). EDUCATOR CONFIDENCE IN THE EDP HAS GROWN, HOWEVER, AS A RESULT OF THE SUCCESS OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING IN SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, AND OTHER PROFESSIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLID STATE TRANSISTORIZED COMPUTERS HAS MADE POWERFUL DESK-SIZE COMPUTERS A REALITY AND…

The computer-based system for routing school buses in rural areas which is discussed minimizes both transportation costs and the average student ride time. Route generation methodology is described and a flowchart of the algorithm is included. (Author/JJD)

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF A PROTOTYPE DEVICE FOR CLASS SCHEDULING WAS MADE. THE BEEKLEY INSITE DEVICE THAT WAS STUDIED USES THE "PEEK-A-BOO" PRINCIPLE OF MATCHING COMPUTER TAPES. A TEST GROUP OF 149 GRADUATE STUDENTS WAS USED. THEIR DESIRED SCHEDULES WERE MATCHED AUTOMATICALLY AGAINST A PROPOSED MASTER SCHEDULE TO EVALUATE THE…

Discusses microcomputer uses for administrative computing in education at site level and central office and recommends that administrators start with a word processing program for time management, an electronic spreadsheet for financial accounting, a database management system for inventories, and self-written programs to alleviate paper…

Administrators in an Alabama school district found that purchasing their own data processing equipment was a better buy than the public consortium they had been using to supply data processing needs. The system, its uses, and advantages are described. (MLF)

Advises on selecting and obtaining hardware and software for automating several daily school business management functions. Suggests methods for "scrounging" equipment at low cost and explains why outside expertise that might be required for operating mainframe computers is not necessary for operating modern microcomputers. (PGD)

Intended to establish a philosophical base for the acquisition and utilization of computers for both administrative and instructional purposes, this paper begins by briefly describing instructional applications and listing the necessary elements of a computer literacy program. Administrative applications are discussed in terms of traditional…

An outline of microcomputer applications for administrative computing in education is followed by discussions of aspects of office automation, database management systems, management information systems, administrative computer systems, and software. Several potential problems relating to administrative computing in education are identified.…

Discusses geoprocessing, a computer mapping technique used by the Portland (Oregon) School District in which geographic analysis and data processing are combined. Several applications for administrative decision-making are discussed, including bus routing and redistricting. (JJD)

This paper presents a summary of some recent engineering research in education and identifies some research areas with high payoff potential. The underlying assumption is that a school is a system with a set of subsystems which is potentially susceptible to analysis, design, and eventually some sort of optimization. This assumption leads to the…

Designed to provide information for decision making when the current 5-year contract with the supplier of computing services to the Manitoba High School Computer Network expires in 1982, this study included both an assessment of the existing situation and the identification of alternative options for the provision of computer services to the…