Asserts that educators should help students to make the transition to the real world of desktop publishing (DTP) as smooth as possible by presenting DTP concepts in the classroom. Offers seven principles of page design and a classroom exercise on DTP. Reviews several word processing programs that include DTP functions. (PRA)

Discusses the use of the symbolic manipulator which helps students solve equations one step at a time. Recommends features to look for in algebra tools. Compares 14 programs on general, graphic, numeric, and symbolic manipulation and provides short reviews of each. (MVL)

Presents reviews of three software packages. Includes "Cube Builder: A 3-D Geometry Tool," which allows students to build three-dimensional shapes; "Number Master," a multipurpose practice program for whole number computation; and "Safari Search: Problem Solving and Inference," which focuses on decision making in mathematical analysis. (PK)

Reviews the Apple II program "Area and Volume" which investigates the areas and volumes of polygonal regions, circles, and solids for grades 6-12. Provides information updates on three programs: True BASIC 2.0, Turbo BASIC 1.0, and Microsoft QuickBASIC 3.0. (MVL)

Suggests that a solution to the problem of expensive educational software may be found in public domain software. Included are a definition of public domain software, a discussion of the kinds of software that are in the public domain, ways to obtain such software, and a list of some examples. (PK)

This document consists of four issues of a newsletter focused on the spectrum of technology use in literacy instruction. The first issue contains the following articles: "Five 'Big' Systems and One 'Little' Option" (Weisberg); "Computer Use Patterns at Blackfeet Community College" (Hill); "Software Review: Educational Activities' Science Series"…