Discusses the teaching consultant process in computer programing courses, describes a teaching consultant model from both the teachers' and students' perspectives, and shows how this model can be used to develop an intelligent teaching consultant (ITC). Differences between this collection of expert systems and conventional intelligent tutoring…

BASIC programing was taught to 95 undergraduates from a manual emphasizing the language's syntax or from a manual that included additional material on the underlying semantics. Both approaches produced equivalent learning of syntactic features of BASIC; however, semantically trained students developed fewer misconceptions and performed better on…

Analyzes the discourse of Logo lessons and suggests that successful learning of Logo concepts may involve a careful structuring of the teaching context. (SR)

Reveals some drawbacks to computer studies in the primary and secondary learning environment in the United Kingdom. Addresses: (1) technical support; (2) low use of computer assisted learning in other subjects; (3) low enrollment of females in computer education classes; and (4) low enrollments in science education at the higher education level…

Discussion of how to teach programming skills to novice programmers focuses on the use of a program animator that uses a copies model of recursion to teach the recursive function. Various mental models are reviewed; testing the recursion animator is described; and possibilities for further research are suggested. (12 references) (LRW)

Describes biographical/life story methods used to explore the underrepresentation of women in computing courses in the United Kingdom. Explains how interviews were structured and conducted and illustrates the method of transcription used. (SK)

Reports results of two studies that compared the introduction of procedural (exemplified by Pascal) and declarative (exemplified by Prolog) programing languages to Italian secondary school students. Discussion covers learning approaches and problems, mental models, programing techniques, programing environments, and educational applications. (27…

One group of college students who had no previous keyboarding instruction and one group who had were tested after three months of microcomputer use. Previous instruction was found to increase speed; no significant difference in mean error scores appeared. Proficiency appeared to be enhanced by previous keyboarding instruction. (SK)

Discussion of the absence of women and minority groups in computer science and information technology focuses on a study conducted at Middlesex University (England) that investigated how gender and ethnicity connected to computing are perceived by computing science students and how this may influence their decision as future computer scientists…

Describes the formative evaluation of a prototype, computerized, interactive learning and practice program for university students in theoretical computer science. Found the program to provide a rich learning environment. (EV)

A partnership between British Telecommunications (BT) and the Communication Workers Union resulted in a part-time bachelor's degree program for BT employees. The union played a key role in establishing the credibility of the program. Concerns included employee access to the program and manager resistance. The need to sustain workplace learning…

We have been using robots in our artificial intelligence course since fall 2000. We have been using the robots for open-laboratory projects. The projects are designed to emphasize high-level knowledge-based AI algorithms. After three offerings of the course, we paused to analyze the collected data and to see if we could answer the following…

In February 2003, RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, commenced delivery of a Computer Science diploma and degree programme using mixed mode delivery to 250 university students in sub-Saharan Africa, through a World Bank funded project designed for the African Virtual University (AVU). The project is a unique experience made possible by…

Readers will find several papers that address high-level issues in the use of technology in education, for example architecture and design frameworks for building online education materials or tools. Several other chapters report novel approaches to intelligent tutors or adaptive systems in educational settings. A number of chapters consider many…

In this chapter, the authors take a broad perspective on how to analyze issues of technology and equity for youth in the United States. They begin with "access" as a starting point, but consider not only whether diverse groups of youth have digital media available to them but also how that access is supported or constrained by…