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 study investigated the effects of medium of instruction, task difficulty, and gender on continuing motivation. A total of 139 fifth and sixth graders with previous computer experience completed an initial learning task in one of the two media formats (computer or paper/pencil) and under either a hard or easy difficulty level. Students' choice…

This paper discusses several interrelated issues that concern four Canadian elementary school teachers who expect to be asked to introduce computer literacy into existing curriculums in the near future. Topics addressed include: (1) how teachers fit computer instruction into their existing practices; (2) status of the subject in their school; (3)…

Microcomputers are already in a majority of American schools, but little is known about their integration into the school curriculum. This study examines the features of an elementary school--Skyline School in the South San Francisco Unified School District (California)--that have contributed to the successful integration of computers in its…

A study examined the behavior of first graders as they collaborated on a writing exercise using a word processor. Data were collected over three weeks in the form of fieldnotes and 13.5 hours of videotape of students working at the computer. Videotapes were examined to locate patterns of discourse and physical actions, and by abstracting from the…

A study using microcomputers for instruction in sentence-building skills with two groups of American Indians in bilingual education programs found computer-assisted instruction to be effective in developing differential skills in the different age groups. The method used small group activity at the computer, emphasizing the cooperative learning…

This report provides detailed guidelines for configuring a computer based instructional (CBI) laboratory based on the use of Navy/Air Force standard microcomputer hardware and software, some off-the-shelf products, and specialized simulation hardware/software, Navy developed authoring and operating systems, and operational equipment interfaces.…

The Memphis Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT), one of seven ACOT locations, was a joint project of the city schools and Apple Computer. The ACOT consisted of a class of 30 fifth grade students in an inner city school, who were selected on the basis of the willingness of the students and their parents to participate and to use computers in the…

Summarized is a report by Jane Burnette titled "Adapting Instructional Materials for Mainstreamed Students," which describes federally sponsored projects to develop publishable supplements and adaptations of popular textbooks for use with mainstreamed handicapped students. The modifications were made to elementary curricula in science…

This course description outlines an independent-study computer awareness course for community college faculty that uses videotapes, computer-assisted instruction, and individual study modules. The outline includes the rationale for the course and the media to be used; time required to complete the course; the goals of the course; the topics…

Microcomputers have revolutionized distance education in virtually every area. Used alone, personal computers provide students with a wide range of utilities, including word processing, graphics packages, and spreadsheets. When linked to a mainframe computer or connected to other personal computers in local area networks, microcomputers can…

This one-page abstract describes a report titled "Microcomputers in Special Education: Beyond Drill and Practice" by Susan Russell, which focuses on a project that created a consortium to promote research, training, and dissemination in learner-centered software for elementary and middle-school students with learning disabilities and…

This report of an Australian overseas study tour to the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Canada reviews developments and practices as of December 1980 in educational communications and technology, the management and utilization of learning resource centers (LRC's) and independent study programs in postsecondary education, and…

A needs assessment of microcomputer use in Illinois school districts was conducted as a basis for developing resources for identifying microcomputer applications for administrative, instructional, and student purposes. A 20-item questionnaire mailed to 200 Illinois school district superintendents and administrators addressed current and potential…

The result of a year of research and development in the classroom, the language arts activities presented in this handbook are designed for use with microcomputers in elementary and junior high classrooms. The first chapter reviews the current uses of microcomputers in the classroom and identifies the problems associated with the prevailing…