Investigated were the effects of programing instruction with BASIC on mathematical thinking skills and concept development in grade six. Posttests assessed programing ability, generalization, and understanding of variables. Observations and interviews were also used. The groups having programing instruction scored significantly higher than the…

Offers information on financial and data management computer software programs designed specifically for day care centers. (BB)

The Cornell University Office of Publications' experiences in the process of computerization are discussed, including rationale, choice of equipment, and decisions concerning the services to be offered, and the lessons learned are offered to others. (MSE)

The effectiveness of manual and computer-assisted legal research (CALR) methods are examined and compared, and the limitations of each are noted. The current state of law students' research skills is then discussed, and the Brooklyn Law School (New York) response to the problem, integrating the methods, is described. (MSE)

Procedures recommended in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Third Edition) (WISC-III) manual for factorial estimation may be replaced by new methods using the computer and a spreadsheet program. Constants and formulas needed to draft a spreadsheet program for estimating the factors using WISC-III scaled scores are presented. (SLD)

Origins and development of a computerized credit transfer system for students in the University of Wisconsin system is described. The program will become the official course equivalency and degree requirement schema for the university, and will also serve the Wisconsin Technical College system. (Author/MSE)

Increasingly, budget pressures and rapid technological change are causing colleges to consider "outsourcing" for computer operations management, particularly for administrative purposes. Supporters see the trend as similar to hiring experts for other, ancillary services. Critics fear loss of control of the institution's vital computer systems.…

A sample of 114 traditional and 35 nontraditional undergraduates provided demographic information and indicated perceptions of course prerequisites, lecture/instruction, and laboratory assistance. Nontraditional students needed more academic assistance in microcomputer classes and labs; they were uneasy about competing with recent high school…

Ireland's computerized, national system of university admission, which assigns all students to institutions simultaneously, and Britain's system using a single set of admissions forms and centrally coordinated admissions, suggest that centralization can be an efficient and cost-effective method of linking students with colleges in the United…

The Jefferson Notebook system, based on a model of integrated research and instruction, is a computer program to aid in creation of hypertext instructional materials. It is currently used in college writing and academic courses. Its authoring features allow teachers to build instructional resources and integrate research and writing. (MSE)

Brigham Young University (Utah) has an automated system for evaluating student transfer information, using an established database containing a historical record of courses taken at other schools. A unique feature of the system is that course evaluation and degree audit are completed the day the student is admitted. (Author/MSE)

A study involving 14 experienced physicians investigated the effectiveness of a computer program (providing statistical feedback to teach a clinical diagnostic rule that predicts the probability of streptococcal pharyngitis), in conjunction with traditional lecture and periodic disease-prevalence reports. Results suggest the integrated method is a…

Colleges and universities can use electronic services such as bulletin boards and electronic mail to both reach out to and keep in touch with alumni. Such services are already being used with some success. Many institutions will find that the technology is already in place on campus. (MSE)

College catalogs can be made less costly by various techniques such as using inexpensive paper, keeping as much of the production as possible in-house, minimizing photographs and color, and printing separate catalogs for different divisions. Catalogs can be improved by providing greater visual appeal and ease of use. (MSE)

A computerized method for managing institutional information to use in creating college planning documents is described. Development of the database, manipulation of the data for reporting, uses in strategic and long-range planning, and the model's implications for improvement of planning processes are discussed. (MSE)