Learning physical activities such as sports and games is expensive and time-consuming. A common advice is "repetition makes perfection," which implies that wrong actions must soon be noticed and avoided. A knowledgeable tutor is often required to provide good feedback for that purpose. However, this facility is available only for those…

Use of personal computers as teaching partners in basic skills instruction of the hearing-impaired personalizes and extends teaching techniques related to existing textbooks. This approach provides both phonetic and phonologic practice. Benefits of this approach are the faster pace and better retention of the material, peer support in performing…

The use of computers in teaching basic skills to special education students is examined. Six instructional techniques useful in teaching basic skills are outlined: information delivery, demonstration, drill and practice, problem solving, tutorial, and instructional games. A summary lists the contributions of technologies to effective learning,…

Three learning models (adaptive mastery, typical mastery, and traditional non-mastery learning models) which employed different criteria for terminating computer-based practice in order to determine mastery or non-mastery of arithmetic skills were compared. The efficiency of two different sequencing arrangements (mixed and clustered) of practice…

Describes a student-centered software package designed at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin to support student writing by helping students generate ideas, improve organization and development, and improve editing capabilities. Describes UT's basic writers and presents findings from the classroom research-based program evaluation. (DMM)

Examines which skills students develop through social studies and how technology can help elementary students strengthen them. Important skills include understanding and using locational and directional terms and developing research, thinking, decision-making, interpersonal, and reading skills. Technology skill-builders include telecommunications…

This collection of articles focuses on the use of word processing software programs as instructional tools for students learning writing composition. Section 1 discusses the use of word processors as a composition tools within the process model of writing instruction and includes articles entitled "Should Students Use Spelling Checkers?,""A Recipe…

Reports on a study that investigated whether computer-assisted instruction is as effective and efficient as teacher-only instruction in helping children with severe learning difficulties master a basic sight vocabulary. Concludes that children can significantly improve their sight vocabulary with minimal daily individual instruction and that the…

Recommends Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) as an effective method to teach basic skills to elementary students in developing nations if managerial problems can be overcome. Presents results from two studies using CAI mathematics materials. (DC)

The Los Nietos Basic Skills Program was the first program of computer assisted instruction funded by the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA). The system initially supported 17 typewriter-style terminals, but the number was later increased to 24. Because of software problems, the system changed companies and the courses changed to the following:…

The Los Nietos School District in Los Angeles was the first school in the United States that had its basic skills program supported through intensive use of computers. Through fundings under the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA), the program is embarking on its third year. The system initially supported 17 typewriter-style terminals, but before the…

This evaluation study with 94 elementary students (50 with mild mental handicap) compared computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and paper-and-pencil practices in promoting automatization of basic addition and subtraction skills. Findings suggested CAI was more effective but that the students with mental handicap required more practice than…

The inabilitiy of the traditional education system to pay attention to the individual needs of students has been a central obstacle to effective education since the demand for universal education first led to the formation of rigidly-structured, large schools and classrooms. Use of computers now removes the need to teach all students the same…

This catalog contains brief descriptions of the PLATO lessons that are available under the coordination of the Community College English Project. It is designed to serve instructors as a guide for incorporating PLATO courseware into their teaching activities. Each course entry includes a file name (for on-line access), descriptive title, author's…

A study was conducted to determine the instructional effectiveness of supplementary computer assisted instruction (CAI) for high school equivalency training in the military. Thirty-two students in language arts classes and 32 students in mathematics classes were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving traditional instruction and the other…