An exercise simulating the tossing of N dice is described. Calculation of expected gain and extension to a two-person game are each discussed. (MNS)

Because many courses designed to help teachers teach computer science actually focus on personal use skills (user training), several institutions are establishing courses to train teachers to teach computing. One of these courses is described. A list of course topics is included. (JN)

The authors argue that definitions of computer literacy are too broad and that the term "computer competence" more usefully addresses questions of knowledge and skills. A taxonomy of computer competence, comprised of four levels, is proposed, and its uses for elementary through higher education are discussed. (MT)

Describes five computer-oriented activities suitable for middle grade students. Activities focus on use of spreadsheets to record nutrition data, programs that cause lights to twinkle on a Christmas tree and balloons to burst, an arithmetic problem, and a mathematics exercise using a spreadsheet. (JN)

Some techniques for managing the classroom and teaching programing that have worked well are described. Hardware placement and use, classroom management, instructional recommendations, and programing ideas are each discussed. (MNS)

The president of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Anatoly Alexandrov, recently announced a computer education effort designed to achieve computer literacy among all high school graduates in the Soviet Union by the year 2000. Rationale for this trend as well as the industrial and political red tape involved are discussed. (JN)

Provides tips to help primary-aged students with computer keyboarding skills (suggesting the use of color codes and listing currently available software). Also describes (and lists) a program which helps test students' understanding of IF-THEN statements and illustrates some hazards of "spaghetti programming" (debugging). (JN)

Discusses the place of descriptive geometry in schools problems of teaching technical graphics to young students. Instructional materials for teaching technical graphics, graphic programs, program development, and the value of school project work are considered. Sample computer-generated drawings are included. (JN)

Suggests a moving pictorial tool to help teach principles in the bubble sort algorithm. Develops such a tool applied to an unsorted list of numbers and describes a method to derive the run time of the algorithm. The method can be modified to run the times of various other algorithms. (JN)

Presents five activities suitable for middle grades. These include listings for a car race (BASIC) and poetry (Pilot) programs, and activities on graphics without programing, new meanings (related to computers) of old words, and developing a list of historical events. (JN)

The Computer Awareness Program at Pennsylvania State University centers around 21 courses that provide the user community with a common understanding of computer technology. (MLF)

Provides answers to nine myths about computers, including computers are invaluable for school and home use; programing experience means job security; teachers will develop their own software; computers make good teachers; computer experts will form an elite social class; and computers increase student achievement. (JN)

Author states that the use of computers in mathematics courses tends to generate interest in course subject matter and make learning a less passive experience. Computers also introduce students to computer science as a field of study, and provide basic knowledge of computers as an important aspect of today's technology. (Author/RW)

Today, undergraduate students enter college with increasingly more sophisticated computer skills compared to their counterparts of 20 years ago. However, instructors are still using traditional instructional strategies to teach this new generation. This research study examines strategies that instructors employ to teach introductory computer…

In this study, Information Technologies Certificate Program which is based on synchronous and asynchronous communication methods over the Internet offered by cooperation of Middle East Technical University, Computer Engineering Department and Continuing Education Center were examined. This online certificate program started in May 1998 and it is…