A manual describes the use of graphic commands in student-computer dialogues. How to construct axes, windows, boxes and various other computer displays is explained, in particular reference to the ARDS 100 and TEKTRONIX 4002 and 4010 computer terminals. Concrete examples of displays are included. The appendix contains an explanation of the use of…

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 paper gives a technical description of various computer graphics programs developed on the Sigma 7 computer. Terminals used are the Adage 100 and the Tektronix 4002-4010. Commands are Metasymbol procedures which access Metasymbol library subroutines; programs can also be coupled with FORTRAN programs. Available, inexpensive graphic terminals…

Computer languages are analyzed and compared from the standpoint of the science teacher using computers in the classroom. Computers have three basic uses in teaching, to compute, to instruct, and to motivate; effective computer languages should be responsive to these three modes. Widely-used languages, including FORTRAN, ALGOL, PL/1, and APL, are…

Provides a listing of a software graphics program that investigates the law of reflection and Snell's law of refraction. Written in BASIC for the Apple II personal computer. (MVL)

A conference attended by 40 "students" and 20 "teachers" was held to explore the state of the art in computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The school was held in a remote Italian resort, but direct connections with computers in Italy and the United States were made to provide opportunities for demonstrations of existing systems.…

Developed as an introduction to computer programming using an Apple microcomputer, this document presents teachers and students with: (1) essential vocabulary used in the BASIC language; (2) syntax; and (3) programming techniques. Simple hands-on activities designed to guide the learner through beginning BASIC programming skills and fundamental…

Turtle graphics is a popular vehicle for introducing children to computer programming. Children combine simple graphic commands to get a display screen cursor (called a turtle) to draw designs on the screen. The purpose of this study was to examine young children's abilities to function in a simple computer programming environment. Four- and…

Presents response to a survey in the March and May 1982 issues of the American Association of Physics Teachers "Announcer" on microcomputer use by physics instructors. Provides background information on microcomputers useful in determining choice of system components, including applications development. Appendices give information on machine and…

Discusses chaotic behavior (movement) in a nonlinear system using LOGO programs. Presents several examples with program listings. (MVL)

Provides a method to use superscripts and subscripts on the screen by using graphics screen modes. Gives two methods and provides a listing of a sample BASIC program. (MVL)

Suggests a method of integrating teaching microcomputer graphics in engineering curricula without encroaching on the fundamental engineering courses. Includes examples of engineering graphics produced by commercial programs and others produced by high-level language programing in a limited credit hour segment of an educational program. (CW)

Computers have effected a comprehensive transformation of chemistry. Computers have greatly enhanced the chemist's ability to do model building, simulations, data refinement and reduction, analysis of data in terms of models, on-line data logging, automated control of experiments, quantum chemistry and statistical and mechanical calculations, and…

Provides selected abstracts from the Computers in Physics Instruction conference held on August 1-5, 1988. Topics include: wave and particle motion, the CT programing language, microcomputer-based laboratories, student written simulations, concept maps, summer institutes, computer bulletin boards, interactive video, and videodisks. (MVL)