Examined how children approached digital imaging technology to produce a visual image and the knowledge and experience student teachers need to develop children's literacy. Found that children developed a range of strategies to assist them with technical skills. Student teachers needed support in analyzing the nature of the children's learning and…

Examined writing development of 12 children in prekindergarten classes using computers in self-selected language experience activities. Found that 3-year-olds steadily improved in spelling and story writing, and improvement continued the next year. Children who were exposed to writing as 3-year-olds showed greater gains in spelling accuracy the…

Studied videotapes and interviews to examine students' use of learning strategies and encoding processes while engaged in a hypermedia concept lesson on propaganda techniques. Found that even among high-ability fifth graders, there was a wide variation in strategy use and encoding processes, not always leading to successful posttest performance.…

Explores the use of Information Technology in preschool education as a tool for the understanding of ideas which are familiar to children in a naive way. Suggests that computer programs can provide a safe environment for children to experiment and play with processes and ideas and for teachers to banish their preconceived notions about what…

Investigated second graders' ability and motivation to create and manipulate simulations using KidSim software. Found that using KidSim was a motivating experience and the students were able to develop complex simulations. The dominant motivational factors were the freedom to create original characters and the rules to direct them. Other…

Examines children's understanding of the variation of sunlight and heat of the sun as experienced on the earth related to the positions of the earth and the sun in space, while using a pictorial computer simulation of the phenomenon. Suggests that, through the exploration of the program, children seemed to follow a correctly directed conceptual…

Examined the extent to which kindergartners used computer speech during narrative writing and the relationship between this use and the linguistic properties of their written products. Found that length of text, grammatical cohesion, and lexical density were strongly associated with use of computer-generated spoken feedback. Narrative types and…

Used children's drawings and interviews to examine the impact of age, gender, and school setting on elementary children's thinking about computers. Found that younger children drew computers much larger than themselves and set computers in home or school settings, whereas older children drew computers in proportion to themselves and placed…

Reviews the literature investigating children's ability to use the computer mouse. Results suggest that the mouse is suitable for children. Identifies issues requiring further attention, including the role of individual characteristics and previous experience in competent mouse usage. Examines adequacy of measurement tools used, stressing the…

Examines contributions of computer-assisted reading software (CARS) to current teaching practice. Presented framework for evaluating the technical and pedagogic characteristics of CARS. Described case study using proposed framework to evaluate the use of talking books software in British schools. Cognitive and affective benefits are identified.…

Analyzes seven characteristics of childhood play and describes way in which current computer technology for young children either allows for, or detracts from, creative play experiences. Argues that refinements are necessary before the computer can approach the effectiveness of more traditional materials in stimulating creative play experiences…

Explores the role of computer-assisted activities in functional language learning. Suggests that computers appear to be a valuable tool for facilitating language use within the classroom. When used appropriately, computers can provide a genuine, real-world context for children's explorations through their journey to becoming competent literacy…

Provides an annotated bibliography of up-to-date information on computer technology for geographic education in elementary schools. Suggests that, if teachers are made aware of the available resources of sophisticated computer technology, they will be better able to face the challenges in geography education. (AA)

Two studies compared the process of authoring non-linear or linear stories with HyperCard by inner-city primary school students. Found that, with minimal support, primary school students were capable of constructing hypermedia stories with complex non-linear structures and that the use of non-linear structures appeared to encourage the integration…

A series of computer tutorials provide opportunities for education students in an elementary-mathematics-methods course to explore a topic in depth. Tutorials cover content discussed in class and offer classroom situations for student response and reflection. At the end of each tutorial, students have a choice of assignments to complete in…