Research indicates that there are numerous opportunities for educators to use computer technology in ways which are developmentally appropriate and which support or enhance preschool children's natural motivation to explore and discover. Since many of the misconceptions about preoperational cognition that form the basis for serious objections to…

A simulation is described in terms of its three major aspects: the scenario, the underlying model, and the instructional overlay. The major focus of this paper is the instructional overlay as the component that serves to optimize learning and motivation. Functions of simulations are identified as the acquisition of content, the application of the…

Experiential learning has seen limited application in the preparation of higher education administrators. During recent years, however, simulation games which link cognitive social science knowledge with management skills have been applied to classroom training in this field. A National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS)…

Real test data of unknown structure were analyzed using both a unidimensional and a multidimensional latent trait model in an attempt to determine the underlying components of the test. The models used were the three-parameter logistic model and a multidimensional extension of the two-parameter logistic model. The basic design for the analysis of…

This research project analyzed the manifest and hidden curriculum of a sixth-grade writing project to determine how it transmitted societal values. Entitled "Right is Write", the writing project was a simulation game in which students played roles of writers, agents, editors, and publishers interacting to produce, evaluate, buy, and sell…

This paper explores new technologies, including computers and videodiscs, considering what they offer to education, how they can help contain educational costs, and how schools can begin to plan a smooth transition from today's primitive classroom environment to the electronically-equipped classroom of tomorrow. The introduction discusses general…

An experimental study among fifth and sixth graders in three inner-city schools (which were predominantly white, predominantly black, and racially mixed, respectively) investigated the effect of simulation gaming as a teaching technique on students' racial attitudes. In each school, an experimental group was exposed to "Equality," a…

Methods for preparing and conducting a simulation game that teaches the practical aspects of lobbying to high school students are provided. A prerequisite to the game is that students have learned the theoretical concepts of lobbying. "Lobbying" can be played in three class sessions if materials are distributed and roles assigned before the first…

This bulletin focuses on the role of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in environmental education programs. The utility of this approach in helping students learn in the cognitive, affective, and/or psychomotor domains is examined and its effectiveness is compared to other instructional devices and methods. Major topics are organized and…

This paper delineates the organizational structure and operational procedures of the Michigan Institute for Educational Management (MIEM) Assessment Center Program for prospective school principals and assistant principals. The program is part of the Assessment Center Project of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The…

The plotting of multivariate data using computer line-printers has become a popular means of quickly representing multidimensional data. While many plotting programs are available, there is a paucity of research regarding the validity and reliability of interpretations made by viewing such graphics. This study explores the validity of four…

When two biological simulations on evolution and genetics (one originally developed for a conventional university undergraduate course) were introduced into Open University distance education classes, the difficulties encountered required a reappraisal of the concept of using computer simulation for distance learning and decisions on which…

An Open University project was planned to develop a set of computer assisted learning (CAL) microcomputer programs for a second level, summer school physics course, scheduled to begin in 1982. Major project aims were the development of an underlying system to effectively use medium resolution graphics with a simple animation capability;…

A rationale is presented for viewing the decision-making process inherent in determining budget reductions for educational programs as most effectively modeled by a graduated funding approach. The major tenets of the graduated budget reduction approach to educational fiscal policy include the development of multiple alternative reduction plans, or…

Complex decision-making environments often demand that a range of alternative strategies be identified and compared for their shared value in achieving desired ends. Simple parametric statistical procedures such as analysis of variance and discriminant function analysis can be used in such situations to compare (using selected criteria) the value…