Discusses the value of laboratory work, suggesting that it is not superior to other aids such as computer simulated experiments (CSE). Advantages of and problems related to use of CSE in the classroom, responses to criticisms of simulated laboratory work, and evaluation of CSE as a teaching aid are considered. (JN)

Discusses four phases in the development of a simulation. These include a definition of the simulated universe (including parameters and boundary conditions), mathematical description of the mode, and programing and testing the simulation. Also discusses the development of a physics simulation, focusing on each of the four phases. (JN)

Undergraduate field courses in land use studies at Leicester Polytechnic (England) are described. Students participate in site visits, data processing, problem solving, and simulations. Fieldwork for undergraduate students should relate to a broad and complex picture of how land use decisions are made in a capitalist society. (Author/KC)

Explores a wide variety of uses of microcomputers in the reading and language arts curriculum. (Available from: Modern Learning Publishers, Inc., 6517 Liggett, Oakland, CA 94611, $14.) (AEA)

Describes a computer curriculum for 7- to 12-year-old children which is designed to integrate the computer into multiple subject areas and stimulate the development and sharpening of critical-thinking skills. The course is divided into eight conceptual units, each containing educational computer games or simulations and some related off-line…

Describes the primary design criteria and the classroom activities involved in "The Yellow Light Problem," a minicourse on decision making in the secondary school Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program in California. Activities include lectures, discussions, science and math labs, computer labs, and development…

Describes an interactive computer game in which players compose music at a computer screen. They experiment with pitch and melodic shape and the effects of transposition, augmentation, diminution, retrograde, and inversion. The user interface is simple enough for children to use and powerful enough for composers to work with. (EAO)

The relationship between performance on a simulated patient and a real patient presenting a similar clinical problem is examined. Ten residents in family and internal medicine interviewed and examined four actual and four simulated patients and correctly identified 67 percent as real or simulated. (Author/MLW)

A study using a classroom simulation designed to demonstrate the effects of a certain/uncertain environment on the decision-making strategies of managers determined that such a simulation can be controlled to produce varied environments, and can be used, with some caveats, to replicate actual fieldwork. Nine references are listed. (EJS)

Discusses three aspects of trial simulations used to study juror responses: (1) individuals used as jurors, especially college students; (2) the amount of information provided for jurors; and (3) the presence or absence of jury deliberation. Suggests three methodological caveats for legal communication research employing trial simulations. (PD)

A three-year study compared entry-level and junior-level clinically oriented reading and writing skills of 231 medical students. Entry-level skills were found to be the best predictors of clinical skills. Inclusion of communication skills training in admission criteria and/or medical curriculum are recommended. (Author/MSE)

Argues that simulation and gaming techniques could provide an ideal vehicle for overcoming the failure of most communication skills courses to motivate science students and to achieve their educational objectives. Two simulation exercises developed for teaching communication skills to science students are described. Two figures accompany the text.…

Explains why reenacting trial scenes from literature should be a useful reading, writing, and speaking activity in English classrooms. (RL)

The effectiveness of an interactive computer-based instruction program designed to give students experience with exploratory drilling is compared to a previously used field-oriented simulated exploration program. The development, operation, and implementation of the computer program are discussed. (DC)

Since all commonly used latent trait models assume a unidimensional test, the applicability of the procedure to obviously multidimensional tests is questionable. This paper presents the results of the application of latent trait, traditional, and factor analyses to a series of actual and hypothetical tests that vary in factoral complexity.…