Gateway courses in English challenge students to strengthen skills in critical thinking, reading, grammar, and writing structure and strategies -- skills that also help build competency in comprehension and composition. They can also prove to be a particular challenge to many community college students. This case study examines the efforts at…

The combination of modern computing power, the interactivity of web applications, and the flexibility of object-oriented programming may finally be sufficient to create computer coaches that can help students develop metacognitive problem-solving skills, an important competence in our rapidly changing technological society. However, no matter how…

This study reports the effects of different types of instructional preparation strategies on the problem solving performance of college students taking an introductory physics class. Students were divided into four equally skilled groups and solved the same physics problems after receiving different instructional preparations (engaging in…

Describes the development of the "Portes ouvertes" CD-ROM, which was produced as an integrated part of a first-year method for elementary French. Details the design and production of the CD-ROM with reference to video and textbook elements where such reference is indispensable to an understanding of pedagogical foundations. (Author/VWL)

Discusses development of a long-term project to create a set of computer-assisted language learning materials that would enable beginner students of French to review core grammar points thoroughly, in manageable units, at their own pace, outside of the classroom, and free of direct teacher supervision. (Author/JL)

Discusses limitations of existing publisher-based computer-assisted instruction (CAI) products. Provides two examples of interactive multimedia courseware, discussing the potential for each in the United States History survey: (1) "Eunice: A Captivity Simulation" and (2) "Intercultural Sensitivity." Describes each courseware. (CMK)

This guide to the use of computer software in Spanish second language instruction contains a series of lesson plans based in part on software content. The topics covered by the lesson plans are common to Spanish level 1 and 2 courses, and are intended not as a sequential course but as a reference for teachers. All lessons involve computer use and…

This report describes a multidisciplinary project by members of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Departments of Geography and Computer Science, and College of Education, to develop computer-aided education software for introductory geography at the college and high school levels. GeoSim's goal was to produce major changes in…

This article describes a multimedia-based tutorial designed to teach basic concepts of telecommunications to university students and discusses an experiment that analyzed test scores of two sets of students, one using the tutorial and one learning in a traditional setting. No significant learning differences were found. (Author/AEF)

Describes the creation of a computer-assisted course in introductory psychology. Discusses cost, availability, and requirements for hardware and software development. Provides a guide for teachers interested in developing such a course. Discusses student projects, a homework checker, exercises, and examinations. Argues that the technology frees…

Discusses the positive transfer of computer-related skills to new computer tasks and reviews transfer-related literature to provide recommendations to facilitate better transfer of students' skills from introductory computer classes to future needs. Topics addressed include course goals, user interfaces, problem solving, and software. (Contains 60…

Argues that introductory sociology students need to be familiar with the basics of the entire research process and able to spot simple research errors. Urges teachers to devote time to teaching research methods, assign homework, and include research methods instruction throughout the course. Recommends use of extended research examples and…

A verbal and e-mail survey was conducted of 30 senior high teachers in Alberta who teach computer programming courses in the Career and Technology Studies curriculum, in order to ascertain what courses at the intermediate and advanced levels were being offered, what programming languages were being used, why teachers selected the particular…

A study (n=181 college students) examined effects of lexical ambiguity in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) on beginning second-language learners, focusing on whether personality type affects retention of second-language vocabulary independent of translation issues and in an ambiguous CALL context. Findings support the need for beginning…

Reports study results of introductory psychology students preparing for a quiz using programed instruction, reading a text, or reading an unrelated text. Lists principles of learning, including clear learning objectives, small steps, logical sequence, active responding, and drill and practice. Concludes that programed instruction is highly…