There is great potential for making serious mistakes when microcomputers are being considered for use in business education courses. A microcomputer must be viewed as a teaching aid, not an end in itself. It is incumbent upon the teacher to be thoroughly familiar with the computer and its functions before automatically adding it to the classroom.…

The article argues that even extremely young children can be taught to program microcomputers from their very first contact. A teaching strategy is proposed, having more in common with the teaching of language than with the more traditional didactic-reinforcement cycle commonly employed in the text books. (Author/CL)

Describes the design of a BASIC computer program which enables students to learn BASIC in the context of top-down structured projects and discusses a specific example which uses a program to teach students about double-scripted variables and data structures. (MBR)

This article addresses questions associated with computers: Are they advantageous in the classroom? Do they help children learn? How can teachers learn more about them? Suggests guidelines for teachers learning about computers, listing books and ERIC documents for further investigation. (MP)

Freshmen in a microcomputer class (n=33) used cooperative learning and watched instructor demonstrations; a control group (n=36) worked independently and received verbal instructions. Previous computer experience influenced achievement. A combination of cooperative/independent and verbal instruction/demonstration methods was recommended. (SK)

Assessed the effectiveness of four instructional methods used in fostering computer literacy and in teaching programing skills in 22 primary classes. Four key instructional variables delineated in Direct Instruction Model research were manipulated across the four methodologies. List of instructional objectives, instructional design, results, and…

In order to determine the capacity of high schools to profit from the pre-high school computer experiences of its students, a study was conducted to measure computer utilization in selected high schools of Middle Tennessee. Questionnaires distributed to 50 principals in 28 school systems covered the following areas: school enrollment; number and…

This guide offers planning and organizing ideas for effectively using computers in classrooms that include students both with and without disabilities. The guide addresses: developing lesson plans, introducing the lesson in a way that builds motivation, providing guided and independent practice, extending the learning, and choosing software.…

This report presents findings from a national survey on the extent of microcomputer use in elementary and secondary schools. The survey results indicate that: (1) in half of the schools with microcomputers, only one or two are regular users; (2) many teachers have become more than mere computer users and spend much time on programing; (3) in…

This document consists of a compilation of nine articles, on computer literacy, that have been extracted from the 1984-1985 issues of the journal "The Computing Teacher". The articles include: (1) "ICLEP (Individual Computer Literacy Education Plan): A Powerful Idea" (David Moursund); (2) "Computers, Kids, and Values"…

Designed to serve as a self-paced computer course for education students with no experience using microcomputers, this manual contains instructions for operating an Apple IIe microcomputer, its introductory software, and Bank Street Writer, using the DOS 3.3 System Master. The lessons, which contain illustrations and sample screens, include…

Presents two lessons focusing on (1) spreadsheet design and (2) editing and printing spreadsheets. Materials provided include a list of functions for which students need to learn the commands, suggestions for presenting the lesson, three spreadsheet story problems, student exercises in editing, and two reference sheets for AppleWorks. (LRW)

Introduces a flexible, versatile notetaking system, BASIC Microcomputer Notes, which helps college students preorganize notes to systematically record most unique types of information (program statement numbers, verbatim computer commands, subroutines, flowcharts, and diagrams) presented in a beginning microcomputer programing course. (MBR)

Explores the primary strategies for using personal computers in continuing education. It provides a cursory review of several major developments in computer technology, continuing education's response, and several observations about the possibilities for adult learners equipped with personal computers. (CT)

Provides guidelines for building self-instructional training packages to teach beginning microcomputer skills at any age level. Five steps are explained: outline curriculum and objectives, structure one lesson, produce the instruction, package the materials, and manage the lesson. (MBR)