A study assessed the impact of word processing on the writing of junior high school students, experienced in working with computers, for a number of tasks, including writing. Subjects, 111 eighth grade students in four communications arts classes at a Canadian middle-class suburban school, who had been using computers for writing for a year and a…

One of nine brief guides for special educators on using computer technology, this guide focuses on the use of computers to improve skills and attitudes in writing instruction. Pre-writing tools such as group brainstorming, story webs, free-writing, journal entries, and prewriting guides help generate ideas and can be carried out either on or off…

Every dedicated educator should take the time to integrate the computer into the learning program of his or her classroom. Although studies have reported no significant differences in the achievement of word processing students, teachers using word processing in their classrooms are all enthusiastic about the results, especially regarding…

This curriculum consists of a common core of computer-related knowledge and skills that emphasize developing knowledgeable users of microcomputers rather than computer programmers, technicians, or engineers. Teacher and student editions are provided. Eleven competency-based modules are included. Modules 1, 3, 4, and 6 emphasize hands-on skills…

This review is designed for use by teachers, trainers, and administrative designers of instruction in word and data processing at the secondary, postsecondary, and adult levels. The 76 items included in the review are presented in a format designed to aid in the curriculum decision-making process. Descriptions of the curriculum products are…

A description is provided of a project that was conducted to design, implement, and evaluate traditional and guided-practice instructional modules for independent learning of word processing skills. After an overview of the project, the report outlines the following steps in module development: identifying an instructional goal, conducting an…

Addressing the difficulty encountered by many vocational students in narrowing, focusing, developing, and structuring their ideas for technical writing projects, a computer program was designed to provide these students with a simple, time-saving method of brainstorming and organizing their thoughts. By asking thought-generating questions…

Much is being written about children's learning styles and using computers to accommodate student variability. Although the computer can support instruction for various learning styles, its use in the classroom should be in the best interests of all children, each of whom may be affected by physical, emotional, sociological, and environmental…

Computer software style and usage checkers can encourage students' recursive revision strategies. For example, HOMER is based on the revision pedagogy presented in Richard Lanham's "Revising Prose," while Grammatik II focuses on readability, passive voice, and possibly misused words or phrases. Writer's Workbench "Style" (a UNIX program) provides…

In October and November 1986, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) sponsored a series of forums for elementary teachers to share ideas about the use of computers in the classroom. During the forums, each teacher took from 15 to 30 minutes to explain how he or she taught the lesson that was being shared. The informality of the…

Focusing on the application of new technologies to the creation of rich environments for writing, this project entailed the assembling of a low-cost microcomputer system that included a microcomputer, speech synthesis, voice recognition, and videodisk player. A variety of alternative input devices were explored, and software that permitted the…

A study examined whether computers equipped with speech synthesis devices could facilitate children's writing. It was hypothesized that children using the devices would write longer stories, edit more, and produce higher quality stories than children not receiving feedback from a speech synthesizer. Subjects were 48 children, three girls and three…

An examination of the value of using more sophisticated computer programs in the language arts program led to the design and development of "Thinking Networks," which provide the teacher with a new tool for teaching through nonverbal representation. Using microcomputers to improve reading and writing instruction can incorporate the…

Changes that computer technology has brought about in higher education and skills needed by faculty and students are discussed. Computer/information literacy is important in higher education and in graduates' work after college. Tools introduced by technology include: microcomputers connected to the university's central computer, electronic mail…

Noting that teachers in all disciplines and at all educational levels will likely make some use of computers in their courses, this annotated bibliography provides a guide for English teachers wishing to learn how computers (particularly word processing capabilities) can be of use in the teaching of writing. Following an introduction on word…