A newsletter for the SOLO Project at the University of Pittsburgh contains short problems and solutions of a general nature that arise in computer technology for education and computer science education. The recent and planned activities of the SOLO Project are also listed. Solo Works Newsletter No. 25 is a poster and No. 26 is a journal reprint;…

A collection of interviews and an overview of the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) are presented. (MP)

Features of two versions of the BASIC programing language are compared with the features of the PASCAL programing language. The application chosen for comparison was a word processor. The conclusion was that PASCAL had the best language features, but BASIC had better systems capabilities. (MP)

Suggests that the proper use of computers in the classroom is not in the drill of computer-assisted instruction but as a tool for solving problems in various subjects. In this manner, students learn how computers work as well as learning in subject areas. (Author/IRT)

The question/answer-based computer game "Age of Computers" was introduced to replace traditional weekly paper exercises in a course in computer fundamentals in 2003. Questionnaire evaluations and observation of student behavior have indicated that the students found the game more motivating than paper exercises and that a majority of the…

Data from a survey of colleges and universities indicate most offer some academic program in electronic data processing, but only larger institutions offer computer science as a major field. (Author/RA)

A project to accommodate the large and increasing enrollment in introductory computer science courses by automating them with a subsystem for computer science instruction on the PLATO IV Computer-Based Education system at the University of Illinois was started. The subsystem was intended to be used for supplementary instruction at the University…

The nature of the organization, Micros and Primary Education (MAPE) is detailed, and its history and development are noted. The primary purpose of MAPE is to promote and develop awareness and effective use of microelectronics as an integral part of the philosophy and practice of Primary Education. (MP)

John G. Kemeny, co-author of the BASIC programing language and co-developer of the Dartmouth Time-Sharing System, is interviewed. He responds to questions on computer languages, the role of computer science, future uses of computers, and mathematics instruction. (MP)

The setup of computers in schools in Bavaria is detailed, starting with the fulfillment of the preliminary requirements through teacher instruction. The plan from 1981 onward is to provide at least eight computers per school, with the use of microcomputers helping to keep the costs relatively low. (MP)

The capability of computers and their potential for thinking are discussed. (MK)

Reveals some drawbacks to computer studies in the primary and secondary learning environment in the United Kingdom. Addresses: (1) technical support; (2) low use of computer assisted learning in other subjects; (3) low enrollment of females in computer education classes; and (4) low enrollments in science education at the higher education level…

The under representation of women and minorities in undergraduate computer science and information systems programs is a pervasive and persistent problem in the United States. Needed is a better understanding of the background and psychosocial factors that attract, or repel, minority students from computing disciplines. An examination of these…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of game-like activities on adult learning during a computer-based simulation. This research also studied the use of visual metaphors as graphic organizers to help make the underlying science principles explicit without interfering with the interactive nature of the simulation. A total of…

This paper explores the use of design patterns and anti-patterns in teaching human-computer interaction principles. Patterns are increasingly popular and are seen as an efficient knowledge transfer mechanism in many fields, including software development in the field of software engineering, and more recently in the field of human-computer…