An introduction to using word processing in writing instruction, this report first describes the basic terms and tools used in word processing and then lists the four characteristics of a good word processing program. They are the options to: (1) edit and insert; (2) cut and paste; (3) find and correct; and (4) store and save documents of between…

A discussion of the evaluation of computer courseware looks at its history, the kinds of instruments developed for the purpose of evaluation, and evaluation trends. The first chapter presents three types of evaluation models: (1) those centered on educational objectives, (2) those centered on the use or value of a program, and (3) those…

This report provides an analysis of microcomputer software available for elementary and secondary level instruction in 1989 as compared to 1984. Data from the Resources in Computer Education (RICE) database are used to compare distribution of software programs by grade level; hardware manufacturer; application type (drill, tutorial, simulation,…

This paper describes Topdown Conceptual Analysis (TCA) and how it can be used to produce the knowledge base for the development of courseware. Some of the prerequisites and basic theories behind TCA are explained. In discussing what is meant by learning and teaching a concept, an explanation is given of how a complex concept can be taught in terms…

The recent influx of computer programs to aid students in writing has created some confusion between the linear, directed process of problem-solving and the less directed, more chaotic process of putting words down on paper. Though problem-solving and writing-as-process have some points in common, they cannot be taken as equivalent, because…

This personal account of the development of computer-based learning from the 1960s to the present argues that the 1960s were a period of gestation. Instructional applications of computers at that time included efforts to simulate physics experiments and the debut of the PLATO system, which already had the ability to deliver interactive instruction…

Contrasting traditional linear media (in which all learners proceed through the instructional materials in an essentially fixed sequence) with interactive technologies and hypermedia (in which two learners may take different paths through the same instructional materials), this paper highlights the importance of recording and analyzing the…

According to a recent survey, the quality of educational software is the single most stated concern of computer educators in Canada. Only a small fraction of the educational software is evaluated. The evaluation approaches that have emerged to deal with this problem are subjective and unreliable, and they do not provide an overall impression of a…

Fourth in a series of six monographs on the use of new technologies in the instruction of learning disabled (LD) students, this paper explores issues related to the evaluation and selection of instructional software for LD students. Topics discussed include the following: (1) criteria for instructionally useful software (e.g., flexibility and…

Two papers describe the roles of the Software Development Group (SDG) and the Software Review Center (SRC) at Drexel University. The first paper covers the primary role of the SDG, which is designed to assist Drexel faculty with the technical design and programming of courseware for the Apple Macintosh microcomputer; the relationship of the SDG…

This courseware evaluation rates the "Caffeine" program developed by Lane Community College and sold by the Oregon Department of Education. (The program--not included in this document--is part of a computer-assisted instruction project with nursing applications.) Part A describes "Caffeine" in terms of topics (food and…

One way for foreign language teachers to evaluate computer software, or courseware, for computer-assisted instruction is to look at it from the point of view of the roles of the courseware author as production manager, curriculum developer, learning specialist, instructional designer, and evaluator. In assessing courseware, teachers should decide…

This paper describes a model for evaluating and acquiring instructionally effective and cost effective educational computer software in university psychology departments. Four stages in evaluating the software are developed: (1) establishing departmental goals and objectives for educational use of computers; (2) inventorying and evaluating…

This study of the application of cognitive style theory to the development of computer-based instruction explored two questions, i.e., whether computer-based courseware can be designed to address specific learner characteristics, and, if so, which characteristics. Several factors involved in the optimization of instruction are described: learner…

This courseware evaluation rates the Drugs--Effect and Control program developed by Marshware/Marshfilm. (The program--not contained in this document--includes Drugs--Who's in Control and Their Effect on You.) Part A describes the program in terms of subject area and hardware requirements (Apple II, color monitor); indicates its suitability for…