Presents some rules of thumb for parents and teachers who are developing software libraries. Includes comments on drill and practice software, programs (simulations and adventure games) that teach thinking/problem-solving skills, and programs that foster creativity. Also includes list of resources for selecting software. (JN)

The author reports on a survey of secondary school pupils' attitudes regarding computer-assisted instruction and specific software packages in their English classes. The students concentrated more on learning issues than technological concerns in their comments. (CH)

Combines a software review with a suggestion for a format that will allow a fair comparison between similar software packages and will also be more complete, accurate, and meaningful to the potential user of the software. The software package "Le Francais Par Ordinateur" is reviewed by this method. (SED)

Discussed are the basic and specialized skills needed for graphing exercises. Suggests approaches and activities that can be used in the teaching of graphing skills. Includes a listing of software programs for both teaching graphing and for analyzing data. (ML)

Addresses cognitive style and visual literacy in use of instructional computing, focusing on learner interaction with screen displays and ways cognitive style and visual preferences facilitate or inhibit learning, and asks whether having computers in classrooms is only a case of utilizing another form of television. Research areas are suggested.…

Teachers often have difficulty finding the time to develop or find quality software for classroom use. One solution to this problem is to have advanced microcomputer students produce software. Suggestions for teachers to use in implementing microcomputers into the classroom are offered. (DF)

A direct-instruction approach to computer-assisted instruction is proposed, with the corrective feedback paradigm. Features of the paradigm include adaptive feedback techniques with discrimination training and increasing ratio review. An experiment where 102 undergraduate students learned English-Japanese (transliterated) word pairs demonstrated…

Suggests sources for reviews of available software, and provides seven guidelines for selecting appropriate software: know your objectives; check on software compatibility and available support; consider brand names first; check evaluations, copying restrictions, and documentation. Suggestions for taking care of software and a discussion of word…

Reviews two science computer software packages (on time and seasons and on maps) and three mathematics packages (on solving equations and inequalities, an algebraic coordinate game, and statistics). In addition to descriptions of the contents of each, comments indicate weaknesses and strengths. (MNS)

Examines characteristics of the successful computer assisted instruction (CAI) author, including knowledge required and time for planning, developing, and testing. Obstacles to successful teacher-author are described, including need for extensive training and uninterrupted free time. An alternative approach of teamwork between computer…

The characteristics of videodisc technology are outlined, and a project undertaken to create an interactive videodisc for French language instruction is described, including the efforts to eliminate physical barriers between the computer and the user, pedagogical strategy and material, programing technicalities, and other details of production.…

Describes elements in a course based on formulating principles and basic quantitative hypotheses directly in a programing language, thereby bypassing the language of mathematics. The course is designed to enable mathematically shy students to gain understanding of quantitative methods. Three computer programs are described in detail to illustrate…

Argues that software for electronic boards should address a variety of teaching styles, student abilities and ages, class textbooks, teaching objectives, and learning environments for flexibility of use. The software features that contribute to flexibility include frequent stops, options for going backwards, inter- and intra-unit jumps, and…

Effectiveness of microcomputer-assisted instruction is based on availability of quality instructional programs. Important characteristics of high quality instructional software is offered for health educators. (Author/DF)

Videodisk technology consists of the videodisk, the videodisk player, and the equipment necessary to produce the videodisk. Describes videodisk technology and its advantages over similar media, its most prevalent uses, current educational applications, and courseware developed by the Interactive Videodisk for Special Education Technology project.…