The microcomputer is a tool that puts the power of computer technology in the hands of individuals and institutions at remarkably low costs. It can be used to support conventional teaching efforts or to revolutionize educational systems. (Author)

The article highlights trends in priority user needs and market information on microcomputer hardware/software for special education. Among trends noted are significant increases in microcomputer hardware inventories, and perceived needs for computer assisted instruction, administrative functions, and systematic planning for the use of technology…

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…

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…

Discusses results of a comprehensive nationwide survey conducted in the summers of 1982 and 1983 on the number and brands of microcomputers in schools. Findings show a 118 percent increase in the number of schools using microcomputers, with Apple the most popular brand. (TE)

Discusses costs related to providing computer assisted instruction (CAI), considering hardware, software, user training, maintenance, and installation. Provides an example of the total cost of CAI broken down into these categories, giving an adjusted yearly cost. Projects future trends and costs of CAI as well as cost savings possibilities. (JM)

The article offers suggestions to teachers and administrators for selecting a microcomputer to best meet students' needs and implementing a computer program in the school. Also addressed are the process of introducing computers into the classroom, technological advances in computer technology, and fringe benefits of computer assisted instruction.…

Presents author's view of how computer graphics produced in the classroom enhance mathematical concepts teaching. Specific concepts and related graphics presented include the convergence of power series and the Central Limit Theorem. Formal versus informal instruction, computer assisted instruction versus teaching, and requirements for future…

Suggests ways to overcome obstacles to student computer literacy, including engaging the teacher, training the teacher, and equipping schools with computers. (FL)

Microcomputers in the classroom pose a technological threat to learning because they transform education into psychology. A discussion of the negative effect of computers in the learning environment is presented. (DF)

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has been applied to music education to teach theoretical aspects of music, aid in the study of musical instruments, and teach composition. The trend in CAI is for programed instruction to provide students with active, concrete experience. (KC)

The use of the computer as an educational tool is examined in the two papers of this report. The first paper, "Taking Control of Educational Technology" by Bertram Bruce, considers what computers are and how they might be used productively in education. The paper notes that the biggest impact of computers may be in terms of the ways they…

Computers can be a valuable instructional device when they are used to support teachers rather than replace them. The limitations of educational technology need to be explored to discover the most productive ways to use these machines. Books are discussed as the educational super medium. (DF)

An overview is presented of some major areas of interest, including contrasts between older terminal-based and newer microcomputer-based systems, quality and sophistication of ready-to-use and authoring software, and advanced technology. Three directions for development and problem resolution are outlined. (Author/MSE)

Describes a study that analyzed the evolution of microcomputer-based instructional software for grades K-12 published from 1981-88. Four companies identified their most popular software and their most technically advanced software. Products in each category were analyzed to develop a chronology of the evolution of instructional software and to…