Describes the Instructional Software Design Project conducted in a LOGO-based learning environment in a Boston inner-city public school with fourth graders engaged in the design and production of educational software to teach fractions. Constructionist views of computers in education are discussed, and learning processes are examined. (Contains 58…

Describes the History and Technology Project (HAT) at a model technology school. Offers suggestions of suitable hardware and software, and ideas for funding. Emphasizes the goal of integrating technology into all levels of history and social science. Calls for increasing teacher-student interaction and restructuring teaching methods to reach all…

Discusses the use of computer visualization to motivate and support mathematical dialogues. Describes the "Scientific Visualization Software Suite," a set of public domain visualization tools from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. (Author/MDH)

Discusses design principles that apply to the creation of effective instructional hypermedia or multimedia products that meet the needs of teachers and students. Topics addressed include the adoption of technological innovations; curricular issues; the development of thinking skills; user needs; videodisks; interactive systems; context; and print…

Discusses writing instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Writing reforms are suggested, including increasing time spent on writing and encouraging process writing; writing across the curriculum is discussed; the use of technology is considered; and sidebars give examples of writing improvement programs. (LRW)

Depicts Poetry I, a computerized lesson designed to introduce undergraduates to poetry's fundamentals and maximize student involvement. Driven by DECTalk's verse processor, the lesson teaches poetry's concepts, directs students to write and revise a limerick, and evaluates students' work. Highlights preliminary responses that demonstrate Poetry…

Reports study results of introductory psychology students preparing for a quiz using programed instruction, reading a text, or reading an unrelated text. Lists principles of learning, including clear learning objectives, small steps, logical sequence, active responding, and drill and practice. Concludes that programed instruction is highly…

This study examined the effectiveness of a computer algebra system in teaching secondary school mathematics. Pre- and posttest results and time on task were compared for students receiving conventional instruction and those receiving computer-assisted instruction using an enhanced version of muMath, a standard computer algebra package. (four…

Discusses formative evaluation of courseware and describes a study of undergraduates that compared the effects of two methods of formative evaluation on the revision of a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) program written in HyperCard. Use of the one-to-one method and the small group method of evaluation are explained, and posttest scores are…

Discusses factors which influence performance when authoring multimedia instructional materials, including background knowledge, resource accessibility, learning and teaching styles, learning or job setting, access to expertise, performance support, cooperative learning, tutorials, models, online training, and expert guidance. (Contains six…

Describes the design and use of SCORE (Sales and Customer Service Occupational Readiness Education), courseware developed by AT&T to provide midliterate adult customer service representatives with computer-assisted instruction. Topics addressed include job simulations; skills in reading, writing, math, problem solving, and critical thinking;…

Discussion of computers and informatics in Bulgaria focuses on educational computing. Highlights include national goals and objectives; microcomputers in secondary schools, including vocational schools; resources for educational computing, including retraining teachers, financial support, and the role of higher education institutions in developing…

Describes a study that examined problem-solving strategies selected by African-American preschool students with differing cognitive styles using LOGO computer software. Highlights include spatial development, minority performance and cross-cultural differences in cognitive style, and differences in field-dependent/field-independent children in…

Discusses conceptual difficulties in the field of geometrical optics and describes RAY, a microcomputer-based graphic interface that was designed to serve as a teaching aid and as a learning environment. The ability to combine theory and formal representations with real demonstrations and experiments is discussed. (Contains seven references.) (LRW)

Describes part of a research project in France involving the second-language acquisition of young children that focuses on the use of a computer augmented with a voice synthesizer. Topics addressed include written versus spoken language; multiple sources of information; self-correction; self-esteem; memory; and speed in the learning process.…