Describes New York State's extension experience in using the programable calculator, a portable pocket-size computer, to solve many of the problems that central computers now handle. Subscription services to programs written for the Texas Instruments TI-59 programable calculator are provided by both Cornell and Iowa State Universities. (MF)

Stating that the greatest potential impact of computer use in extension is not in providing information but in teaching how to analyze problems, the author discusses use of the computer as an educational method and offers some considerations to keep in mind when designing computerized learning packages. (MF)