Given the trends in technology and the resultant shift in cost patterns, the question arises as to the best role for the central computer center at a college or university. Managers should try to choose a strategy that enables the institution to exploit emerging technology while maintaining continuity in the provision of their services. (Author)

In the near future, minicomputers will be standard business machines and most office personnel will use or be directly affected by data processing terminology. Business teachers should begin preparing students for this data processing role. The typical minicomputer system is described and some business usage examples are given. (MF)

Critically analyzes recent research studies that examine background variables, cognitive style, and psychological type as influences on performance in college-level computer science courses. Implications for matching curriculum and instructional strategies with student characteristics are presented, recommendations for further research are made,…

Describes New Jersey Institute of Technology's (NJIT) comprehensive plan of becoming a computing-intensive campus. Explains how it provided full time freshmen with microcomputers, free of charge, and how use of computers was integrated into various courses at NJIT. Reviews accomplishments of the program. (ML)

Discusses the results of an ongoing research study to measure college students' microcomputer literacy before taking a microcomputer course. A brief review of the literature on computer literacy is provided, a comparative analysis of results is given, and a microcomputer literacy index is described that measures literacy and ranks students.…

Describes the planning, design, contents, and results of a series of computer literacy workshops that were designed for humanities faculty at Hunter College, New York. Offers ideas on how the model can be adapted for other college programs. (ML)

Traces the origin, changes, and current status of the PLATO system at the University of Illinois. Highlights the program's benefits to students, its adaptations, and its establishment of large networking systems. (ML)

Examines a project which involves the introduction of computer science into elementary schools to create an awareness of data processing as an intellectual, technological, and socio-cultural phenomenon. Concludes that the early computer experience and group work involved in the project enhances student social and psychological development. (GEA)

Describes computer curriculum designed for gifted middle school students that culminates in the eighth grade by having students prepare programs for elementary school students. Students either write their own programs or adapt public domain software, based on questionnaire responses from elementary school teachers indicating their needs. (LRW)

Presents an approach for the improvement of teacher performance through in-service programs related to computer science education. Identifies what teachers need to know about computers and offers a model for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of in-service programs for teacher computer literacy. (ML)

Contends that elementary principals must be computer literate to be effective instructional leaders. Points out that principals should be familiar with computer hardware, software, computer assisted instruction, and micro-based administrative operations. (ML)

Points out the benefits of students using LOGO with problems dealing with vectors and matrices. Provides examples of performing linear algebraic computations in LOGO. (ML)

Suggests the use of computer simulation of continuous systems as a problem solving approach to computer languages. Outlines the procedures that the system dynamics approach employs in computer simulations. Explains the advantages of the special purpose language, DYNAMO. (ML)

Argues that trends in upper elementary and higher education computer science programs should lead to programming as focus of high school computer curriculum, and reviews philosophies supporting teaching of programming. Advantages and disadvantages of using Pascal and other languages are discussed and compared. Teacher information sources on Pascal…

Traces the history of Virginia Tech's requirement that incoming freshmen majoring in computer science each acquire a microcomputer running the UNIX operating system; explores rationale for the decision; explains system's key features; and describes program implementation and research and development efforts to provide personal information…