Presents photographs and descriptions of various tools of the teaching profession, discussing what makes certain ones stick. A history of print media, furniture, writing tools, audiovisual materials, and computers is included. The best tools available are described as those that become magic in the hands of a master teacher. (SM)

The computer can provide students with opportunities for creativity, if good software is selected and students are provided instruction in its use. Software that promotes creativity includes word processing programs, programs that permit students to write and use their own personal programs, and programs that teach and encourage thinking skills.…

Described are examples of classroom exercises that use interactive graphics software for personal computers to enhance the teaching of statistical concepts by allowing students to generate multiple examples, make conjectures, and verify their findings about the concept. The transfer of this interactive tool to other subject areas is suggested.…

Presents results of a study of six kinds of linguistic education software. Discusses treatment of language as an object rather than as a means of communication. Reports that the software promotes reflection on language and metalanguage awareness in a social and educational context by stimulating children's interest in playing with language. (DK)

Three elementary teachers describe how they became involved in computer technology and the projects that caught their interest. One teacher used word processing to enhance students' writing abilities. Another used software to tailor learning to all levels. The third tried an international telecommunications program that allowed children to…

Used computers to observe when foreign language (FL) readers look up meaning of unfamiliar words when reading FL text. Experiments with 82 English-speaking Dutch students from grades 10 and 11 show look-up behavior was clearly influenced by perceived word relevance, modestly influenced by reader's vocabulary knowledge, and not influenced by…

Describes the current state of knowledge about human decision-making and problem-solving processes, explaining recent developments and their implications for management and management training. Rational goal-setting is the key to effective decision making and accomplishment. Bounded rationality is a realistic orientation, because the world is too…

Spreadsheets are well suited to many geochemical calculations, especially those that are highly repetitive. Some of the kinds of problems that can be conveniently solved with spreadsheets include elemental abundance calculations, equilibrium abundances in nuclear decay chains, and isochron calculations. (Author/PR)

Michael B. Goldstein discusses academic regulation of telecommunicated learning; Todd D. Gray describes how community colleges can tap into new technologies such as interactive video data service and local multipoint distribution service to distribute programing to off-campus learners; and Kenneth D. Salmon discusses the Telecommunications and…

Presents summary results of Instructor's National Teacher Survey on curriculum reform, school governance, assessment practices, multiculturalism, and other issues. Teachers reported wanting program improvement, more involvement in school governance, increased use of computers and technology as learning resources, nonstandardized testing, and…

A study investigated whether computer conferencing would encourage critical reflection in prospective teachers. A computer conference helped students examine their taken-for-granted assumptions, the validity in differing perspectives, and consequences of choice making. Findings suggest that computer conferencing can help students reach this goal,…

A study measured graduate students' writing apprehension and computer anxiety levels before and after using electronic mail, computer conferencing, and remote database searching facilities during an educational technology course. Results indicted postcourse computer anxiety levels significantly related to usage statistics. Precourse writing…

Describes a four-session workshop called "Lights, Camera, Action" in which students are videotaped as they read letters they wrote from the point of view of a character in a book. Notes a positive effect on student motivation. (MG)

Discusses the 1985 Soviet national computer literacy campaign, its structure and assumptions, and computer hardware and software developed to support it. Compares Soviet and U.S. views about roles of computers in education and educational reform and the ways to promote computer use. Contains 50 references in English and descriptions of 4 Soviet…

Computer system hard drives will fail at some time. Stresses preparing to cope with emergencies that cannot be prevented, including making arrangements for use of an alternative computer in case of system failure. Outlines requirements for a computer environment; explains that backup is the key to disaster recovery. Describes four public domain…