Describes a study of undergraduates that compared three strategies for indicating links in a hypermedia system to determine their effect on learner navigation and learner perceptions of ease of use. Highlights include three linking display types; the density of links; elaboration types; time intervals; and implications for hypermedia system…

This research paper based upon a thesis of the same title examines whether a statistically significant difference exists between computer literacy test scores for those students having a microcomputer in the home and those who do not. Relationships between student gender, adult education level, adult occupation, adult computer use, educational…

Describes study that was conducted to determine whether four- and five-year-old preschoolers could be taught reading skills with computer-assisted instruction, and whether they could learn basic computer literacy skills without direct instruction and drill. Software is described, and the pretest/posttest single group design is explained. (16…

Describes a survey of physics and physical science teachers in Iowa that was conducted to determine their use of microcomputers. Availability of computers and types of software used are examined, frequency of use and access to computer laboratories are investigated, and results are compared with those from earlier surveys. (seven references) (LRW)

Describes a study that investigated the feasibility of using computers to teach music notation systems to Chinese students, as well as to help Western educators study Chinese music and its number notation system. Topics discussed include students' learning sequences; HyperCard software; hypermedia and graphic hypertext indexing; and the…

Describes study of fourth and fifth grade students which explained the effect of graphics on student motivation in a microcomputer-based spelling drill program. The role of feedback in instruction is discussed, the impact of graphics on computer software is described, and results are analyzed. (4 references) (LRW)

The effects of microcomputer use on preschoolers' knowledge of pre-reading concepts and attitudes toward microcomputers were investigated. Seventy-seven preschoolers were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: (1) adult-assisted microcomputer instruction; (2) unassisted microcomputer use; and (3) no computer use. Analysis of pretest…

Describes study that was designed to examine the impact of action and sound on preschool children's preferential selection and recall of verbal content presented in a computer microworld. Visual superiority and auditory superiority hypotheses are discussed, sex differences are examined, and results indicate the importance of including action. (29…

Criticizes the statistical methods used in a previously published article that compared a commercially produced computer program with traditional teaching methods. Measures of instructional effectiveness are described, the assignment of student pairs is examined, and the use of blocking variables with analysis of variance is discussed. (LRW)

Examines the effects of systematic use of computers for the management of mathematics instruction upon mathematics performance in the elementary school. A model system for using computers to manage instruction within a student-paced, mastery-learning format is described, and treatments for the experimental and control groups are explained.…

Examines the strengths and weaknesses of five selected statistical software packages with respect to how well the software enhances business statistics instructors's ability to teach traditionally difficult topics. Ranks the software on technical and pedagogical benefits. Results indicate (1) no advantage to using textbook-related software over…

Discussion of the use of color in microcomputer-based educational software focuses on a study of Israeli ninth graders that examined the differential effects of three color treatments on the learning of geometric concepts by students with differential aptitudes. Hypotheses tested are described and results are analyzed. (28 references) (Author/LRW)

Describes a study of high school students that investigated the use of microcomputers to teach principles relating to the design and interpretation of graphs. Results related to student achievement, higher order thinking skills, and behavioral protocols are discussed. A sample assignment sheet and test questions are appended. (66 references) (LRW)

Discussion of high school dropouts highlights the development of a computer learning laboratory that was used with at-risk high school students. The assessment of students' skills in language and reading is described, software that focused on these areas is discussed, and the results of pretests and posttests is reported. (Seven references) (LRW)

Discusses formative evaluation of courseware and describes a study of undergraduates that compared the effects of two methods of formative evaluation on the revision of a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) program written in HyperCard. Use of the one-to-one method and the small group method of evaluation are explained, and posttest scores are…