Critiques Freyd and Lytle's evaluation of the IBM Writing to Read program in the same "Educational Leadership" issue. Claims that WTR helps kindergarten and first grade students produce stories they otherwise would not have written and that research results were misinterpreted. IBM should be allowed to compete in the language education…

Computer-mediated communications attempt to overcome the isolation of distance education students and tutors. Technical and administrative barriers still must be overcome to reap the benefits of an "electronic classroom." (SK)

This article reviews current resources on computer-assisted instruction. Included are sources of software and hardware evaluations, advances in current technology, research, an information hotline, and inventories of available technological assistance. (DB)

A study measured the differential performance between 27 students using computer-assisted instructed (CAI) and 31 taught by traditional methods. No significant difference was found between performance of experimental group (CAI) and the control group (traditional) with respect to the effect of CAI alone. However, when students' prior grade point…

Reports the views of several experienced composition teachers regarding composition textbooks in general and their use in computer course sections specifically. (MM)

Provides an overview of recent research on computers in the classroom, highlighting reports from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and from the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). Research methodology used in studying computer-assisted instruction is discussed, and drill and practice skills versus higher order thinking…

Discussion of software security in university computer laboratories focuses on the causes of computer viruses. Possible ways to detect an infected disk are described; strategies for professors, students, and computer personnel to eradicate the spread of a computer virus are proposed; and two resources for further information are given. (LRW)

Discusses the role of the elementary school computer lab instructor and suggests that, for successful integration of computers into the curriculum, the role should change from teacher to consultant. Strategies of change are discussed in two main stages: educating teachers, followed by shifting responsibility from the lab instructor to the…

This study evaluated multiple-choice and sentence verification technique items as on-line measures of comprehension while subjects (N=940 Air Force enlistees) read computer-presented text. Also evaluated was whether presentation of on-line questions had a positive impact on text learning. (IAH)

This overview of the computer industry vendors that supply microcomputer hardware to educators for use in kindergarten through high school focuses on Apple, Tandy, Commodore, and IBM. The use of MS-DOS versus the operating system used in Apple computers is discussed, and pricing and service issues are raised. (LRW)

This article discusses the WRITE ON! software library which consists of almost 500 literature-based writing activities for grades K-12. These interactive writing guides on disk integrate word processing into literature-based instruction. (IAH)

Summarizes the results of five studies dealing with screen design for computer-based instruction (CBI) and provides suggestions for their application as well as future directions for research. Chunking, text density, and screen density are discussed as variables in screen design, and current research is described. (33 references) (LRW)

Discusses the current status, research, and practical implications of artificial intelligence and expert systems in education. Topics discussed include computer-assisted instruction; intelligent computer-assisted instruction; intelligent tutoring systems; instructional strategies involving the creation of knowledge bases; decision aids;…

Examines the effect of computer assisted instruction (CAI) on the spelling performance of six poor spellers who also received special education services. Finds superior performance during the computer-assisted drill in spelling as well as improvement to average performance levels for non-handicapped, same-age peers in three of the subjects. (RS)

Describes the architecture of an Intelligent Computer Language Learning (ICALL) system, and argues that the knowledge of a language required for teaching cannot be adequately represented in an ICALL system's database. Positive uses of computer-assisted language learning suited for the teaching of specific skills are discussed. 22 references.…