At the present stage of the development of education of persons with disabilities ways of enhancing the effectiveness of training students with intellectual disabilities undergo active research. One means of improving the efficiency and further upgrading of teaching methods is information technology. The article gives an example of improvement of…

Describes the use of a supercomputer in chemistry and physics instruction. The computer is used by high school students to create high quality, nearly 3-D graphic images of scientific phenomena. (PR)

Discusses a microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) study (n=75) which uses multiple temperature gathering devices (mercury thermometer, digital thermometer, and computer probe) and graphing methods (hand graphs, delayed computer graphs, and real-time graphs). Reports that MBL real-time graphing provides significant increases in graphing skills. (MVL)

Describes the use of C programming language for creating simple programs to teach about pendulums, waves, and frequency. (PR)

Reviews two software packages, "Solutions Unlimited" and "BASIC Data Base System." Provides a description, summary, strengths and weaknesses, availability and costs. Includes reviews of three structured BASIC packages: "True BASIC (2.0)"; "Turbo BASIC (1.0)"; and "QuickBASIC (3.0)." Explains…

Describes and compares five different uses of computers in physics education: tutorial, demonstrations, modelling toolkit, laboratory aid, and student as programer. Provides examples of computer uses and offers perspectives on developing further programs. (ML)

Reviews four software packages available for IBM PC or Apple II. Includes "Graphical Analysis III"; "Space Max: Space Station Construction Simulation"; "Guesstimation"; and "Genetic Engineering Toolbox." Focuses on each packages' strengths in a high school context. (CW)

Evaluates two Apple II interfacing packages designed to measure pH: (1) "Experiments in Chemistry" by HRM Software and (2) "Voltage Plotter III" by Vernier Software. Provides characteristics and screen dumps of each package. Reports both systems are suitable for high school or beginning college laboratories. (MVL)

Two classroom studies, one conducted in the spring of 1985 and the second in the spring of 1986, showed that many high school students do not differentiate between heat and temperature; instead, they have a single concept that contains some of the features of heat and some of the features of temperature. Because the distinction between these two…

Describes an assignment where students are given the task of using a computer-authoring system to develop a multimedia lesson on DNA and RNA molecules. (PR)

Density is the first intensive physical quantity students encounter that can be understood in terms of an underlying model, the particulate theory of matter. Learning about density provides students with explanations for a range of phenomena such as sinking and floating, and changes of state. Teachers report, however, that density is a difficult…