Discusses the evaluation of educational software designed for use with microcomputers, and emphasizes the need for criteria based on learning theories rather than technological considerations. A review of the literature highlights teacher training in software selection and predictive evaluation, and 49 references are included. (Author/LRW)

This discussion of advances in computers and information technologies focuses on the development and design of new educational software called cognition enhancers, which include empowering environments, hypermedia, and microworlds. The implications of this new technology for students and teachers and its impact on society is reviewed. (LRW)

Discusses the nature of interactive video, its educational use, evidence for its effectiveness, and the design of interactive video courseware. Use by the military and industry is also described, studies comparing video with other instructional methods are reviewed, and areas for further study are suggested. Ninety-four references are provided.…

Discusses text presentation in computer-based instruction and reviews research that has been done in this area. Topics discussed include length of text, amount of text presented at one time, rate of text presentation, color, text comprehension, text structure, reader comprehension, and new directions for computer-based text. (23 references) (LRW)

Describes study of fourth and fifth grade students which explained the effect of graphics on student motivation in a microcomputer-based spelling drill program. The role of feedback in instruction is discussed, the impact of graphics on computer software is described, and results are analyzed. (4 references) (LRW)

Proposes to modify the procedure proposed by Abelson and diSessa to produce a polygonal path with vertices that lie exactly on an ellipse. Provides a detailed proof. Implements a limiting process to produce the best possible approximation to any ellipse for any given screen resolution. (CW)

Presents a tiling problem designed to be solved using the microcomputer, which will give students a context upon which to build meaning for the concepts of factors, common factors, and greatest common factors. (PK)

Describes pseudoprimitives, a set of special procedures which allow traditional geometric topics to be used within the context of LOGO. Explains how these procedures can be extended and used in junior and senior high school geometry. (PK)

Reviews five software packages for use with school age children. Includes "Science Toolkit Module 2: Earthquake Lab"; "Adaptations and Identification"; "Geoworld"; "Body Systems II Series: The Blood System: A Liquid of Life," all for Apple II, and "Science Courseware: Life Science/Biology" for…

Seven research conclusions concerning computers in elementary schools are presented. A summary conclusion suggests that researchers have been unable to detect improvement in mathematical skills, although some evidence suggests that students using computers acquire attributes related to success in mathematics. (PK)

Three small multilingual groups of learners of English as a foreign language worked on three text-based computer-assisted language learning tasks. While the students worked, their conversations were videorecorded for the purpose of investigating the possible utterances (spin-off) generated from the activity in terms of interaction in the target…

The summative evaluation of a courseware program designed to assist in writing the lower-case alphabet is described to demonstrate the effectiveness of a field test for answering specific evaluation questions, collecting maximum evidence on which to base conclusions of instructional effectiveness, and being flexible enough for use in normal…

The first study investigates the validity of the Preschool Language Assessment Instrument as a diagnostic tool for differenciating the ability of language impaired preschoolers to use language to communicate complex ideas. The second study evaluates the relative effectiveness of two software environments that were expected to enhance children's…

Examines the importance of levels of questioning and types of feedback in designing courseware for computer-based education. Test results are analyzed for four groups of high school students who completed different versions of a computer-based science lesson, and recommendations for future research are given. (Author/LRW)

Reviews three software programs: "Fraction Fuel-Up"; "Explorations in Chemistry"; and "Locus." Includes information on: instructional orientation, educational level, systems package, publisher, program description, strengths and weaknesses, applications, and recommendations for improvement. Includes a general critique statement in the summary…