Defines artificial intelligence and reviews current research in natural language processing, expert systems, and robotics and sensory systems. Discussion covers current commercial applications of artificial intelligence and projections of uses and limitations in library technical and public services, e.g., in cataloging and online information and…

A tracking procedure (lipreading of word groups that are repeated by a hearing-impaired listener), emphasizing practical coping strategies and practice in responding to cues in connected speech, was utilized with one deaf adult subject. Tracking scores before and after training illustrate the value of the procedure for evaluation and training.…

Research literature on childrens' causal understanding in oral and written settings is reviewed. Results show that maturation and task complexity both influence childrens' causal understanding. However, the findings are contradictory, and no generalizations could be made about which factors influence causal understanding and at which ages they are…

Analyzes small-group writing conversation among freshman composition students, identifying the following roles: (1) evaluator, (2) immediate reader, (3) role playing audience, and (4) helpful listener. Presents transcripts of student conversations illustrating these roles, and suggests ways to improve what is said. (JG)

Heidelberg College's international program has grown from a handful of juniors studying abroad to a range of international opportunities that reaches into the lives of students, staff, and faculty, and the local community. The English language program, internationalizing student life and faculty, and changing the curriculum are discussed. (MLW)

Discusses a normative basis for an approach to teacher education that contributes to the establishment of more critical and emancipatory practices in the public schools, and links these ideas to the broader tradition of radicalism in teacher education. Teacher educators need to become more politically involved to reform teacher education.…

Reviews history and research of sensorimotor and language development in handicapped children, two research studies on the relationship between sensorimotor development and communication status in nonverbal severely mentally retarded subjects, problems using standardized sensorimotor scales, and an alternative approach involving direct measurement…

Many severely disabled individuals who rely on augmentative and alternative communication systems experience difficulties using newly acquired communication skills in settings different from those introduced in the instructional context and with different conversational partners. Methods of promoting functional communication skills are addressed,…

The use of microcomputer-assisted therapy as part of the total rehabilitation plan for brain-injured individuals with cognitive-communicative impairments is addressed. Design of effective computer-assisted remediation requires a careful decision-making process. Specific types of software are suggested for dealing with deficits in organization,…

Assessment of ethnic attitudes in 232 English- and French-speaking children aged five to 12 reveals that positive attribution to one's own ethnic group and negative attributions to the other group decrease with age. Cognitive rather than social desirability factors are important in the development of children's ethnic attitudes. (Author/BJV)

Two articles point out the importance of students' collaboration in the computer lab. The first describes two students' use of the word processor to write a story collaboratively. The second analyzes the dialogue of two students playing a computer game, showing that such games help students become better at planning and decision making. (ARH)

Discussion of the use of microcomputer-assisted instruction for advanced college writing courses emphasizes word processing exercises and programmed lessons. Topics discussed include computer writing labs, local area networks, commercially available software for writing instruction, teacher developed programs, and authoring languages and authoring…

Compares the different criteria used to identify poor spellers and readers from good spellers and readers. Findings reveal that visual memory of orthographic sequences may help to differentiate between poor and good spellers. (CB)

Parents of 31 developmentally delayed children (ages 1-27 months) received training to assess their children's developmental status. No initial differences existed between parent and professional scores in the motor, social, or language domains. Differences in the self-help domain disappeared after 4 months and in the cognitive domain after 12…

The U.S. political candidates for 1988 need to address educational issues. Three agendas are discussed: language training commencing by third grade, values education, educational opportunity for all. (MLW)