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…

Of the currently available programs for microcomputers, only a few are applicable for reading instruction, and those being used are most frequently drill and practice. These programs focus on reading skills such as letter recognition, word alphabetization, and sight words. Very few programs are concerned with comprehension. Consequently, a team at…

Microcomputer assisted instruction for the vocational education of special needs students is in the formative stage. Computer programmers do not understand educational processes well enough to produce effective software, while the majority of special needs educators lack computer training. Special needs educators need to use existing knowledge in…

Intended for administrators or teachers with no prior knowledge of microcomputer applications in education, this document answers frequently asked questions about microcomputers focusing specifically on the use of microcomputers for computer assisted instruction (CAI), drill and practice, and instructional games. Background information covers…

In response to the increasing use of computers in school by young children, this paper provides definitions of concepts and discussions of topics related to computers and young children. The first section takes up the issue of computer literacy, describing various uses of the term and discussing the controversy concerning teaching computer…

This publication contains 4 reports and 15 profiles which illustrate the role of computers in education with emphasis on vocational education. The reports are: (1) "Microcomputers in the Classroom--Dreams and Realities" (Henry Jay Becker); (2) "Microcomputers in the Classroom: Are There Unique Issues for Vocational Educators to Consider?" (Judith…

The report describes a project examining computer-assisted instruction for severely/multiply handicapped students. An underlying thrust of the project was to provide multiply handicapped children with opportunities to learn to control events as part of their daily activities. The approach featured 26 pupils (5-21 years old) using three activities:…

A 10-week project conducted with 12 gifted 4th and 5th grade students (10 boys and 2 girls) examined the effectiveness of the Logo computer programming language as a tool for helping students understand some basic principles of physics. Three assumptions were tested: (1) motivated elementary school students can learn both turtle graphics and word…

This summary of the Instructional Use of Microcomputers Scope Document dated February 22, 1980, outlines short-term plans for the educational use of microcomputers in British Columbia, indicates long-term possibilities, and describes current project activities. The project comprises two major phases: continued field liaison and research, and…

This paper outlines the development of an activity that uses the computer's unique capabilities to provide students with a meaningful and highly motivating experience with the graphing of equations. The basic design of the game calls for the computer to display a coordinate grid on which it graphs any equations that are typed in by the student.…

In order to develop a systematic procedure for the evaluation and revision of educational software for microcomputers, a study was undertaken by the Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) Institute and the Microcomputer Resource Center at Columbia University to define the criteria that are needed to evaluate instructional microcomputer…

The design of the CAI interface described is based on the microprocessor in order to meet three basic requirements for providing appropriate instruction to the developmentally handicapped: (1) portability, so that CAI can be taken into the customary learning environment; (2) reliability; and (3) flexibility, to permit use of new input and output…

This two volume report presents descriptions of LOGO-S, an interactive programming language expressly designed for education, and the portable LOGO system, a computer software development. The modular structure of LOGO, along with its simple but powerful extension features, is naturally suited to problem solving in many problem domains with…

This report on an investigation of available hardware which would support music peripherals in an instructional mode focuses on the application of microcomputers to the teaching of music. It discusses microprocessor-based PLATO instruction, hardware selection, and courseware transfer, and notes that experimental lesson results indicate that…

This conference report explores microelectronic technology, its effect on educational methods and objectives, and its implications for educator responsibilities. Two main areas were considered: the significance of the likely impact of the large scale introduction of microprocessors and microelectronics on commercial and industrial processes, the…