Guidelines are presented to help teachers apply specific criteria for choosing microcomputer software and adapting courseware from other disciplines to the teaching of disabled readers. The guidelines discuss how to provide individualized instruction by ascertaining the readability of materials and the reading ability of students. Guidelines also…

Differences in sets of criteria for evaluating microcomputer software are discussed. They are set against the results of three studies in which teachers in the United Kingdom evaluated five programs which were used in reading or English lessons. A comparison of the checklist criteria with the case study data was made using Stake's (1967) matrix of…

Designed to condense the material in a wide range of articles about computers and composition, this bibliographical review on computer use in composition is preceded by brief discussions of current pedagogical theory on composition instruction and of the directions in which computing in composition appear to be developing. The reviews contain…

Intended for teachers interested in integrating computers into a reading curriculum, this paper analyzes three computer adventure games and suggests applications of each game within the reading class. Beginning with definitions of the concepts of reading, comprehension, and adventure game, the paper then describes the three games:…

Describes a variety of software programs appropriate for whole-language learning. The software allows elementary students to make picture books and create posters, banners, greeting cards, puzzles, and minimovies and to do group writing activities. Also included is information on resources and computer reading packages. (SM)

DaisyQuest is a computer program that teaches and provides practice in synthetic and analytic phonological skills. Researchers found young children trained on DaisyQuest had significantly greater phonological awareness gains than children without training. Children trained on a more developed version significantly outperformed a matched group on…

In an effort to improve the student literacy, a school district in Mississippi implemented the semantic-mapping or cognitive-mapping approach, using the Thinking Networks for Reading and Writing package which provides software, text activities, and semantic maps. Library media specialists played a major role in the project as teacher-trainers,…

Practical issues that should be considered in placing a classroom computer for use with elementary students include where to locate computer equipment in relation to electrical sockets, windows, and chalkboards; the program sound; who will be able to see the screen; and classroom traffic patterns. Decisions must be made regarding the size of…

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…

Designed to provide information to special educators on software that is available for special-needs students and to serve as a reference source for regular educators and administrators, this bibliography is divided into eight areas: reading and language arts; learning skills; mathematics; consumer education; occupational and vocational education;…

A three-year project carried out by the Microcomputers and Reading Committee of the New Jersey Reading Association involved the collection, improvement, and distribution of free microcomputer software (public domain programs) designed to deal with reading and writing skills. Acknowledging that this free software is not without limitations (poor…

Two issues of this listing (August and September 1990) contain reviews of courseware for kindergarten through grade 12. Entries are classified by subject or application: communication skills, which include instruction in reading and writing; mathematics; microcomputer programing; science; social studies; and utilities (desktop publishing…

Many reading teachers, cognizant of the creative opportunities for skill development allowed by new reading-writing software, are choosing to use microcomputers in their classrooms full-time. Adventure story creation programs capitalize on reading-writing integration by allowing children, with appropriate assistance, to create their own…

This report focuses on research and development activities related to the 1983-85 Instructional Microcomputer Project for Arkansas Classrooms (IMPAC), under the supervision of the Arkansas Commission on Microcomputer Instruction. The report includes five major sections: (1) research findings that relate to achievement levels in mathematics,…

This document provides guidelines for the preparation of school district plans for implementation of the microcomputer instructional programs recommended for Arkansas schools. Introductory materials include suggestions for school administration leadership activities in a microcomputer utilization plan, a message to the superintendent, and six…