Thirty students were placed in a traditional or one of two experimental courses that each used television and simulation but differed in the way the history-taking demonstrations were presented. Videotapes of later history-taking from a simulated patient indicated that students in experimental courses obtained more information and used more…

Using a very simple computer program written in BASIC, a very large number of random-generated DNA or RNA sequences are obtained. Students use these sequences to predict complementary sequences and translational products, evaluate base compositions, determine frequencies of particular triplet codons, and suggest possible secondary structures.…

Described is the development of a simulation, or model of an existing congested pedestrian crossing situation by elementary school students in order to conduct trials of their solutions. (MN)

A class activity involving role play introduces the concept of human nature as it relates to political phenomena. The lesson involves development of the concept of human nature, reference to its usage by various political theorists, and student speculation about human nature as it relates to their political life in the classroom. (Author/AV)

Described is a kit devised to give 13-16 year-olds experience in studying biological situations and making decisions with reference to the use of pesticides in the protection of crops and in public health. The report describes the background, aims, and evaluation of the kit. (Author/AJ)

Working simulation sets is as close as most high school accounting students come to actual job experience, according to the author. Suggestions are offered for motivating students, teaching the sets, establishing time goals, using a variety of sets with some student choice, and systematic student evaluation. (MF)

Describes a simulated grouping exercise, carried out at a learning-disability conference in Texas, which revealed that grouping practices in 1985 may be flexible enough to allow teachers to select students, teaching techniques, and instructional materials. (MB)

A course focusing on bankruptcy reorganization uses simulation and role-playing to increase the depth and speed of students' comprehension of the substantive concepts inherent in reorganization proceedings and their place in the process. (MSE)

Explains the hierarchic structure of the mammalian visual system. Proposes a model in which feedback pathways serve to modify sensory stimuli in ways that enhance and complete sensory input patterns. Investigates the functioning of the system through computer simulations. (ML)

Discusses the use of simulations as an alternative form of instruction for teaching general level students. Describes how the author used a simulation in a general level history class with positive results. Concludes that simulation is a teaching method which is well-suited to the goal of assisting non-college bound students in acquiring necessary…

Researched hypothesis-testing strategies (HTSs) used by counselors. Undergraduates and counselors-in-training interacted with a computer-simulated client counselor, then counselor. Of the three HTSs (confirmatory, disconfirmatory, and unbiased), the unbiased HTS was preferred choice of HTS, was stable across time and with different feedback, and…

Winners of a contest run by the EDUCOM Software Initiative, a project to promote development and dissemination of instructional software for higher education, are identified. Criteria included the appropriateness of the software for use in higher education, its reliability, appeal and ease of use, etc. (MLW)

Describes a project at Massachusetts Institute of Technology concerned with making computer-assisted instruction more "human," communicative, and interactive for students learning a foreign language. The goal of the project is to create prototypes for beginning and intermediate courses in French, German, Spanish, Russian, and English as…

This essay proposes the use of assessment centers, designed to simulate real-life situations and identify managerial skills, as a possible solution to dilemmas of current administrative personnel selection practices in academic libraries. Background, setting up the assessment center, obtaining assessment expertise, and legal implications are…

The research literature on the effect of computer assisted writing with disabled and non-disabled persons is reviewed. Covered are research on: composing processes, composing with computers, software for intervening in the composing process (e.g. drill and practice, text analysis, simulations); and developing writers. (DB)