Describes a study of third- and sixth-grade students indicating no differences in comprehension between story reading on a page and on a computer screen, and that students were more interested in the story while reading from the screen, but that the story was more difficult in this condition. (HTH)

Describes the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Program, which replaces drill and practice with thinking skills activities for grades three through six. The HOTS curriculum, which is built around commercially available software, is reviewed; special teaching techniques that emphasize teacher-student dialog are presented; and benefits for at-risk…

Conducted to determine whether use of computerized file-management programs can enhance the development of information processing skills, this two-treatment experiment found that seventh through twelfth grade students in the computer-using/structured activities group received significantly higher mean scores than the…

Focusing on process description, provides a step-by-step class presentation of an assignment given to a technical writing class that uses a computer program to teach instructions. Discusses the assignment's benefits to class discussion, the editing session, and the writing produced. (JD)

Systematically investigates, defines, and organizes variables related to production of internally designed and implemented computer assisted instruction (CAI) courseware: special needs of users; costs; identification and definition of realistic training needs; CAI definition and design methodology; hardware and software requirements; and general…

Study of the reading achievement of nonnative speakers of English enrolled in a basic skills college reading course indicated that those students receiving computer-assisted instruction (CAI) made higher reading achievement gains than students not receiving CAI. An annotated list of CAI reading software is included. (CB)

Focusing on university programs for adult learners, this discussion of distance education reviews existing programs, including the British Open University and the Annenberg/CPB Project; discusses course design; and describes the integration of a variety of media including television, video cassettes, audio, computer assisted instruction, radio,…

This analysis of trends in computer-based instruction (CBI) during the past decade briefly describes evaluation criteria from 1974 and discusses changes in attitudes toward CBI (costs, instructional effectiveness); system selection criteria (graphics, input devices, quantity and quality of software); the CBI marketplace (including transportability…

Describes several computer courseware packages designed to teach about the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution. Lists the title, publisher, required hardware, suggested grade level, type of program, price, and description of nine such programs. (TW)

Offers guidelines for instructors designing computer labs to support existing writing programs, based on three main suggestions: (1) design computer-supported writing labs around writers, not around computers; (2) ground lab operations and instruction in current writing theory and pedagogy; and (3) use labs to support research on writing…

This two-part interview focuses on the high expectations for the role of computers in higher education that the author feels are not being met. Highlights include discussions of teaching methods incorporating computers, computer science education, computers as research tools, word processing, and the questionable value of learning programming…

Examines potential of computer communications in distance education based on trials of electronic mail and computer conferencing at British Open University. Highlights include descriptions of two courses that experimented with MAIL MANAGER electronic mail software, and a discussion of the role of tutors as potential moderators of conferences.…

Describes a statics course developed at Texas A&M University in the engineering curriculum which utilizes computer-assisted instruction. Discusses the organization and management of the team that developed the course, the selection of the hardware and software used, and the implementation model and lesson prototype developed for the course.…

Discusses the use of computerized databases in instructional settings. Provides examples of how such instructional databases could be accessed directly by students. Lists some commercially available databases, distinguishing between their type, computer compatability, price, grade level, and their general searching abilities. (TW)

Presents perspectives on creating new technology-based supports for science learning. Reviews current philosophies concerning the interpretative nature of scientific inquiry and discusses the difficulties of students and teachers in science education. Describes a prototype software system for supporting scientific inquiry processes in students.…