Describes findings of the Spoken Language and New Technology (SLANT) research project which studied the talk of primary school children in the United Kingdom who were working in small groups at computers with various kinds of software. Improvements in the quality of talk and collaboration during computer-based activities are suggested. (Contains…

Discussion of how to teach decision-making skills to undergraduate engineering design students highlights a computer-based decision support tool, WOMBAT (Weighted Objectives Method by Arguing with the Tutor). Changes in WOMBAT from an earlier version are described, and an example of dialog between a user and the system is included. (Contains 24…

This third in a series of articles on the use of technology with at-risk students focuses on using technology for increased parental interaction. Highlights include the effects of parental involvement on student achievement and self-esteem; and the use of telephones, videos, software, classroom computers, and integrated learning systems. (Contains…

Students can study the Arctic by creating Arctic clubs, using modems to communicate with students nationwide who are following International Arctic Project (IAP) explorers. The article describes the IAP, explains how to form a club, and discusses issues that clubs can tackle, for example, pollution, Arctic animals, natural resources, and the…

This article offers teachers basic information on using authoring programs and hypermedia to develop computer-assisted instructional programs as well as a seven-step systematic instructional design and development model involving preplanning, designing, authoring, testing, and revising the courseware product. Examples of teacher developed…

A new optometry-oriented program for the Macintosh computer has been written for the Neural Sciences Computer-Assisted Learning Package to include graphics and synthesized speech. It has 21 modules in 6 categories: anatomical drawings; diagrams illustrating physiological concepts; records from experiments; flow charts of neuroanatomical pathways;…

Discusses exemplary teacher and student characteristics that can provide the base to generate an Intelligent Computer Assisted Instruction (ICAI) shell. Outlines the expertise, learning, student-model, and inference modules of an ICAI shell. Describes the development of an ICAI shell for an undergraduate course in human physiology. (33 references)…

Examines the problem of determining the minimum center of mass for a can with a varying height of liquid in it. Uses PC SOLVE computer software to graphically represent the problem situation. (MDH)

The effectiveness of two spelling software programs on the weekly spelling performance of underachieving elementary students was studied. Students learned the programs, and data were collected over the school year. Data analyses indicated both programs generated higher accuracy in spelling than traditional procedures. Students sustained the…

Describes the operation of a graduate level statistics course based on computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Course content and student reactions are discussed, course evaluations are reported, problems involved with moving the courseware to different computer systems are described, and the CAI run-time system is explained. (10 references) (LRW)

Argues that educational computing is a discipline and discusses issues that need to be addressed in this discipline, including similarities with experimental psychology; networks and integrated learning systems; problem-solving software versus domain-specific software; computer labs versus classroom integration; software quality; computer equity;…

Discussion of educational computer simulations focuses on the parallel instruction theory that was developed at the University of Twente to combine the simulation with instructional materials, including those that may be printed. The MacTHESIS design system and philosophy are discussed, and simulation and learning environments based on the…

Describes a project that addressed the problem of courseware reusability by developing a database structure suitable for organizing multimedia learning material in a given content domain. A prototype system that allows browsing a DBLM (Data Base of Learning Material) on earth science is described, and future plans are discussed. (five references)…

Considers the role of educational technology in two views of the school reform movement: one that demands more from the existing educational system, and one that calls for restructuring of the existing system. The effectiveness of technology is addressed, models for technology use are described, and technology and constructivism are discussed. (31…

This article considers the importance of using age-appropriate software for adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and the difficulty in finding such software. It outlines suggested sources, ideas for screening and evaluating software, and seven steps in selecting software. (DB)