This is the first issue in a series of reports on a national survey conducted to determine the number and primary uses of microcomputers in schools. The survey sample consisted of 2,209 public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools in the United States. Findings of the survey (conducted in 1982/83 by means of mailed…

An elective unit was developed for a course (Math 20) which would teach students to program solutions to typical exercises. Development of the unit took place in a large senior high school in Alberta. The elective is 15 hours long, with the first five hours devoted to learning programming fundamentals and the final ten hours to programming…

This monograph includes nine papers delivered at a National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) preconference workshop, and a previously unpublished paper on gender and attitudes. The papers, which are presented in four categories, are: (1) "Report on the Workshop: In Search of Gender Free Paradigms for Computer Science Education"…

The effects of using a microcomputer for electronic research on the achievement and attitudes of eighth-grade boys and girls (N=247) were investigated. The study analyzed three dimensions of student themes, two sets of computer achievement measures, and three attitudinal dimensions for each of three treatment groups. Results showed no unpredicted…

These two interim reports are the third and fourth in a series based on data from the 1,082 microcomputer-owning public and non-public elementary and secondary schools that responded to a survey of 1,600 schools (68%) between December 1982 and March 1983. Issue No. 3 presents comparable data on microcomputer ownership and use for schools in…

Describes study that investigated the impact of computer ownership and lab attendance on College of Business students' performance on an examination and in an introductory course on information systems. Results indicated that both owning a computer and attending lab sessions were associated with a student earning a better course grade. (10…

This report examines the achievement and enrollment of students at the Central Computers Unlimited Magnet High School in Kansas City, Missouri, through its third year of operation. The school offers special emphasis in computer science and technology including programming, maintenance, and operations. The evaluation design focuses on the…

Presents the underlying ideas of the Software Cost Reduction (SCR) approach to requirements specifications. Results of applying this approach to the teaching of programing to high school students indicate that students perform better in writing programs. An appendix provides two examples of how the method is applied to problem solving. (MDH)

Student use of microcomputer databases in social studies is discussed. Databases give students and teachers an opportunity to get involved in information storage, retrieval, and analysis. In the process, students develop skills of inquiry, problem-solving, and critical thinking, as well as many of the basic skills needed not only in social studies…

Discusses various factors involved in planning and implementing an introductory computer science course in an Indian secondary school located in Bahrain. Topics discussed include computer literacy; selection criteria for microcomputers; funding; computer laboratories; teacher training; criteria for student selection; students' viewpoints; teaching…

This evaluation examines the progress made in the areas of achievement and enrollment by students at the Central Middle Magnet School in the Kansas City, Missouri, School District after the Computers Unlimited program had been in operation for 4 years. The evaluation design used data on student demographics gathered from the Research Office of the…

Describes a study that was conducted to investigate the influence of home computer ownership and use on the achievement of second- and fifth-grade students in a programing curriculum. The use of LOGO and BASIC programing curricula is discussed, and results are compared to those from an earlier study. (20 references) (LRW)

Two Computers Unlimited elementary magnet schools have completed their first year of operation as part of the Long-Range Magnet School Plan in the Kansas City School District. The curriculum for the Computers Unlimited theme emphasizes basic skills, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. This formative evaluation report addresses the…