Historically, educational institutions have largely relied on in-house development of administrative software. However, the costs of skilled programmers and rapidly advancing technology are making in-house development too expensive. These and other factors are addressed and changes needed for future educational administrative computing support are…

Secretary T. H. Bell (in an appearance before the House Committee on Science and Technology) provides a description of and discusses issues related to the influx of computers among educational institutions in the United States. Rapid spread of microcomputers, lack of commercial software, and software development are among the areas explored. (JN)

A national educators' cooperative of more than 30 health professional schools and organizations coordinates the efforts of authors, reviewers, and instructional designers to allow a sharing of instructional resources. (MP)

Highlights some of the key points in the history and development of videodisc technology and implications they have for education. The two types of systems currently available, costs, storage capacity, and present and future uses of the technology are among the areas considered. (JN)

Examines what is currently being done in Israel related to software development, discussing: (1) TOAM (a Hebrew acronym for "drill and parctice with the Help of the Computer, an elementary arithmetic program; (2) MENTOR (an authoring language); and (3) a role playing simulation. (JN)

Many current software systems for authoring interactive microcomputer/video instructional materials have noticeable drawbacks. Advantages of interactive software systems are examined and a research project to develop interactive video authoring tools without the drawbacks is described. (JN)

Reports on the various ways microcomputer hardware and courseware are being integrated into the nation's schools, in a race to avoid being locked into technological mediocrity. Effectiveness of computer assisted instruction, courseware development, and the time students use computers in elementary and secondary schools are among the areas…

Describes a model for organizing research and development on educational applications of the information technologies. The development and evaluation of interactive video courseware using the model (an interdisciplinary team approach) for precalculus mathematics instruction is included. (JN)

Explains how computers were implemented to supplement vocational training at a leading chiropractic school. Extrapolates how these experiences might be applied to any discipline. (JN)

The Center for Research and Development in the Application of Technology to Education project identifies effective uses of new technologies for the learning disabled. Areas investigated include effective instructional design principles, program design strategies, adjusting technology for individual learners, software development, and use of…

The television screen under computer control is seen as a very compelling focus of attention that can be harnessed and used to good educational effect. It is stated that the most vital and difficult task in curriculum development is to make useful material accessible to teachers. (MP)

The director of an educational technology center, who maintains that much of today's computer courseware is of low quality, provides a checklist of points which can be used to identify educationally viable software then outlines two future scenarios for academia, illustrating the results of courseware selection. (JN)

Discusses factors related to the design of computer courseware/software, focusing on pupil/student notes, teacher's guides, and the computer program itself. Also discusses computer training courses for teachers at familiarization, specialist curriculum, teacher-author, and teacher-disseminator levels. Suggests local support for teachers when…

Discusses producing effective instructional software using a balance of course content and technological capabilities. Describes six phases of an instructional development model: discovery, design, development, coding, documentation, and delivery. Notes that good instructional design should have learner/computer interaction, sequencing of…