Suggests ways undergraduate students can perform political data analyses using electronic spreadsheets. Examples include data from presidential elections, voting information, and welfare budgeting. Illustrates how data can be used as a partisan weapon and in making predictions. Emphasis is upon electronic spreadsheets rather than the more advanced…

The author argues that the impact of educational technology has been blunted by a failure to understand what it is and what it can do. He states that educational technology has been misunderstood and oversold. Lessons for the successful application of technology in schools are presented. (CH)

Reviews instructional design techniques that are suggested for improving the quality and effectiveness of educational software. Three areas of instructional design are addressed: (1) instructional strategies, including provision, examples and active feedback; (2) screen display, including text style variety; and (3) human factors, including…

Discusses the Computers in Teaching Initiative Centre for Geography (CTICG), part of a network of 21 subject-based centers in the United Kingdom, intended to promote computer-assisted learning in higher education. Examines courseware sources and suggests developing a database of available software or a distribution service. Lists CTICG's aims in…

The article presents technology projects that provide real-life reasons for students to learn geography. A variety of online networks take students on online field trips, linking them with scientists, zoologists, archaeologists, and explorers. Other interactive software is available to simulate trips to various locations around the world. (SM)

The sharable content object reference model (SCORM) includes a representation of distance learning contents and a behavior definition of how users should interact with the contents. Generally, SCORMcompliant systems were based on multimedia and Web technologies on PCs. We further build a pervasive learning environment, which allows users to read…

The Scottish Science and Technology Network (SSTN) is a major collaboration between Careers Scotland and Scottish industry to promote science and technology via an on-line and integrated learning programme. An initial two-year pilot project has grown considerably and has now been running for over 7 years. The SSTN programme is a web-based…

The current paper describes the design and development of a qualitative analysis course and an interactive web-based teaching and assessment tool called VSE (virtual structural environment). The widespread reliance on structural analysis programs requires engineers to be able to verify computer output by carrying out qualitative analyses.…

This paper presents research using a computer with a video disk player to do aesthetic analysis of the work of Vincent Van Gogh. A discussion of the video disk system, and of several software systems including: (1) Dr. Halo, (2) Handy, (3) PC-Paint, and (4) Pilot are outlined. Several possible uses of the computer with interactive video disks for…

This document discusses the IBM project HANDY that uses an authoring language for the development of interactive teaching lessons. The paper describes a series of lessons that explored various aspects of color and motion in relation to general principles of basic design. The IBM language is designed so that teachers can write a script, create…

Intended for use by teachers, this guide suggests classroom techniques for using "Write Now," an Apple II program with music, motion, and pictures, to facilitate the teaching of manuscript handwriting skills to elementary school students. "Write Now" shows the student how to form curves and lines when writing letters of the…

Estimates calling for 1.2 million computer-assisted design (CAD) operator positions to be available by 1990 have prompted educational institutions throughout the country to incorporate instruction in CAD into their industrial arts curricula. Therefore, the question for schools is not whether to buy but rather what to buy. An effective strategy for…

Noting that the educational software market is expanding at a precipitous rate, but with considerable variation in quality, this paper outlines a thorough set of tangible and useful questions, based on two years of program design for English and writing lab usage. The major portion of the paper discusses criteria for evaluation in each of the…

This study examined parents and preschool children interacting in two informal alphabet learning activities, using picture books and interacting with software on a personal computer. Results showed few differences in the way mothers and fathers reacted with preschoolers, but there were differences in consistency across the two settings. (LMO)

Presents objections to the use of special-purpose computer languages for authoring courseware and recommends use of authoring procedures with a general-purpose language (in this case PASCAL). Highlights include problems in designing computer assisted instruction, developments in educational theory, a summary of modern authoring languages, and…