There is an abundance of educational software available, the quality of which ranges from invaluable to a waste of money. The following guidelines should make shopping for software as painless as possible: (1) know your objectives; (2) be sure the software fits your equipment; (3) consider dealer support; (4) consider brand names first; (5) check…

Describes the development and objectives of a personal computer program to help journalism students learn word processing at Syracuse (New York) University. (HTH)

Explores the use of microcomputers in the study of literature, particularly in Hispanic studies. The philosophy and methodology of literary computing, electronic text preparation, note-taking, searching, indexing, tagging, text collating procedures, and poetry and literary analysis are discussed. (CB)

Presents the results of a recent survey of microcomputer use in economics departments in United Kingdom universities and polytechnic schools. The BBC B and IBM PC were the first and second most popular machines, respectively. Eighty-five per cent of the use was secretarial with Wordstar and Wordwise being the most popular word processing packages.…

The concerns of how personal computers can be used to increase the overall effectiveness of education are addressed. Topics discussed include: availability; teacher use; word processing; calculators; class use; computer-assisted-instruction; and simulations. Thorough faculty inservice on computer enhanced education is suggested before implementing…

Offers a personal perspective on the use of computers in English instruction. (FL)

Presents five articles that consider computer keyboarding instruction at the elementary school level. Highlights include keyboard familiarization techniques that do not require a computer; integrating keyboarding skills into the rest of the curriculum; and Type-Right, an inexpensive laptop computer dedicated to teaching keyboarding. (LRW)

Extension leadership articulated several broad goals for the use of microcomputers within cooperative extension. These included providing information, service to clients, office automation, and enhancement of the educational process. A questionnaire was administered regarding microcomputer use within Washington State University County Cooperative…

Word processors can be used in the classroom to help teach both the mechanics of writing and the process as a whole. The computer can facilitate student/teacher conferencing, peer evaluation, peer collaboration, and purposeful writing. (DF)

The article describes ways in which learning disabled students can use simple database management and word processing programs as active users. Involvement in these types of computer applications allows the user to be an active, creative communicator. (CL)

Uses of the computer to support the development of writing skills was examined in a computer-intensive educational context, the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT). Subjects were 55 sixth-grade minority students, 25 of whom were ACOT participants and the remainder members of a matched control group attending the same school. Computer-based writing…

This survey of the literature provides a review and synthesis of research findings and current thought on the use of microcomputers by school children. Modes of learning and taxonomies of learning are described, and the results of recent surveys indicating the number of computers in schools and the amount of access by students are reported.…

This paper explores three components of academic computing--programming, productivity tools, and computer-based education--by reviewing the past, evaluating the present, and considering the future possibilities of the field. It is suggested that the future growth of academic computing depends upon the resolution of a number of issues: (1)…

Reviews 34 computer programs designed to help freshman writing students and their teachers either by providing instruction, supporting the composing process, or helping to manage classroom activities. Most of the programs run on microcomputers and are currently available; a few are included because they indicate interesting trends. (MBR)

This bibliography lists 754 books and articles which focus on programs that can run on IBM microcomputers and compatibles using PC DOS/MS DOS, and that can be used in online information and documentation work. An index lists the software packages alphabetically by title and references them to the main entries, which are listed by author. (CLB)