Surveys were completed by 48 special education teachers of preschool-high school students to address the extent and nature of microcomputer use in special education. Questions were designed to examine the perceived value of microcomputers with handicapped students, the extent of current access and actual use, teachers' experience in using…

The content and quality of the documentation and teachers guides that accompanied 55 educational microcomputer software programs were examined, to determine whether the technical and pedagogical information provided by such guides enabled teachers to fully exploit the instructional potential of the programs. The courseware covered basic elementary…

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 study examined students' attitudes towards the use of computer technology in composition instruction. Subjects were 122 college juniors and seniors enrolled in seven sections of a technical writing course. Students received either 10 weeks of computer assisted instruction (CAI) in a computer environment, 5 weeks of CAI in a computer…

Arguing that the systematic application of knowledge about instruction to videodisc technology is essential if the full potential of this medium is to be realized, this paper begins by discussing the need for intelligent videodisc technology in our educational system. A brief review of the state of the art in intelligent videodisc systems, which…

Designed to examine the application and cost-effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for secondary education in developing countries, this document is divided into eight chapters. A general introduction defines the research problem, describes the research methodology, and provides definitions of key terms used throughout the paper.…

This study determined the prominent brands of microcomputers presently in use in Southeast Texas schools, the reasons for their selection, and computer use and brands in relation to grade level. Questionnaires related to microcomputer use were sent to 115 school districts in southeast Texas in 1985. The return rate was 83 percent. A total of 8,258…

The four projects described here, a selection of those funded by the Annenberg/CPB Project, focus on the use of telecommunication and information technologies as tools for teaching in higher education. All are written by people directly involved in the projects described. The introductory section, "Overview: Issues in Educational…

A sound approach to microcomputer instruction takes into account the special characteristics of microcomputers and uses them creatively to enhance the basic goals of education and to prepare students for a technological society. The most significant new tool man has designed in centuries, the microcomputer features one-person operation, low cost,…

An approach to teacher inservice training in the use of computer-based learning is described in this paper, with specific discussion devoted to the development of a videotape training module by the Hertfordshire Advisory Council for Educational Technology (HACET) to demonstrate the role of educational technology, and in particular microcomputers,…

The advantages of a knowledge-based computer program that creates exercises for language instruction rather than presenting pre-stored materials are discussed, and one such system, ILIAD, is described. Designed to address a broad range of language learning needs, this system can be used by people learning English as a second language and by…

With only a very basic knowledge of microcomputers, the language teacher can readily build on student interest in this learning mode. The teacher remains in control of what is to be learned and is still involved in deciding how the student will approach the material. Programming is not something the teacher has to know, but it is helpful to have a…

Generally, there are three kinds of software that could be used in college writing courses: word processing programs, interactive questionnaires, and text parsers. Although the benefits of these programs are well known, they still pose some problems. Word processors, for example, have been designed to "process" existing text; few have…

Current developments in the use of microcomputers to meet the learning needs of special education students are discussed. Examples are given of efforts of special projects (such as Project ReTool), Teacher Education Computer Centers in California, and local school districts in the training of teacher educators and special education teachers.…

Ways in which various uses or applications of a microcomputer can help improve the image of a college or university department are discussed in this paper. The paper discusses applications such as instruction, word processing, management, programing, communications, statistics, and graphics, and audiences for these applications, such as department…