Investigated the relationship between the use of specific instructional activities and classroom experiences and student motivation for learning science based on 13-year-old students in Ireland from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Highlights include correlation between computer use and student enjoyment; and gender…

Discussion of computer simulations used for exploratory learning focuses on the design of a hypothesis scratchpad that students can use for hypothesis generation and testing. An experiment with college chemistry students that compared three versions of the scratchpad is described, and the effect of the scratchpads on learning environments is…

Describes a study of 107 sixth graders that investigated the effects of learning strategy training intervention and the incorporation of learner control on achievement, learning efficiency, and instructional choice while subjects learned from a computer-based science tutorial. Principles for instructional design incorporating learner control are…

Describes a study of eighth-grade students that investigated the impact of computer simulations on students' ability to generalize scientific concepts from classroom to naturally occurring problems. A curriculum for teaching thermodynamics that was reformulated to emphasize integration of understanding is described, and student reactions are…

Describes a study of undergraduates in a biology course for nonmajors that examined the effects of four methods of immediate corrective feedback during computer-based instruction (CBI). The relationship between types of corrective feedback and types of errors made by learners during CBI and during a later retention test is also examined. (33…

Describes a study that reports on the changes from 1983 to 1989 in computer availability and usage in Minnesota science classes in grades 7 through 12. The opinions of computer use held by principals and science teachers are examined, and changes in perceptions are discussed. (nine references) (LRW)

This research examines the performance, achievement, and attitudinal effects of a dissection alternative, an interactive videodisc-based (IVD) simulation in two ways: as a substitute for dissection and as a preparatory tool used prior to dissection. Sixty-one high school students enrolled in three general ability high school biology classes…

Describes a study designed to assess the effectiveness of 2 science simulation programs for 11- and 12-year-olds in a developing country (Guyana). Computer-assisted learning (CAL) results are compared with results from written assignments, effect size is discussed, gender differences are examined, and ability levels are considered. (14 references)…

Describes a study conducted in Northern Ireland that investigated the impact of personal computers on pupils' cognitive and affective development. Topics addressed include attitudes toward English, math, or science; gender differences; process-based work versus content learning; and treatment of experimental and control groups. (Contains five…

The purpose of this study was to examine how learners with different levels of prior understanding of a topic interact and learn from computer-assisted video instruction systems when they have control of content, sequence, pace, and mode of instruction. Based on pretest scores, 80 subjects were randomly selected, half with low prior conceptual…

Describes a study of high school students that investigated the impact of computer-assisted learning (CAL) integrated with classroom-laboratory instruction versus classroom-laboratory work alone on students' achievement and mastery of science process skills in a microbiology course. Posttest scores are compared and the curriculum integration of…

Describes study that investigated teachers' criteria for the use of courseware packages in Dutch junior high school physics classes. The development of a courseware evaluation instrument is described; drill and practice, simulation, and tutorial courseware packages are evaluated; motivating elements are considered; and implications for the design…

An interactive videodisk (IVD) program was developed to reinforce learning of the biological concept of protein synthesis for high school students. The laser videodisc "The Living Textbook Life Science" was the source of frames, and the authoring system of G. Smith was used to create the disc. The interactive program was designed to make…

This study of patterns of microcomputer-based instruction in elementary and secondary schools had three objectives: (1) to describe how teachers who were nominated by their peers as "unusually successful" in their microcomputer-based mathematics and science teaching use technology for instruction; (2) to describe how these uses vary as a…

Describes a study conducted in elementary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland that assessed the impact of the use of laptop computers on academic achievement in mathematics, English, and science. Treatments for the experimental and control groups are described, and performance measures are explained. (seven references) (LRW)