Identifies and discusses 10 overly optimistic claims for the use of computers in the classroom, and makes recommendations concerning each claim. Highlights include computer labs versus curriculum integration; the development of hardware versus software; the values of computer literacy; computer networking; computer education training; the use of…

Summarized are six journal articles from five journals published in 1988. Included is one article which summarizes other studies. Sources of other similar articles are listed and discussed. Topics noted here include BASIC programing, computer-based instruction, student preparation, text density, and teacher workload. (CW)

Discusses a research project that uses artificial intelligence techniques to help teach programing. Describes principles and implementation of the LISP Intelligent Tutoring System (LISPITS). Explains how the artificial intelligence technique was developed and possible future research. (MVL)

Describes the cooperative development by a community college, regional vocational school and three high schools in rural Virginia of an articulated Information Processing Specialist Program, which can be completed in two years of high school plus two years at the community college. Highlights financial considerations and community involvement in…

Emphasizes the importance of computer training in dealing with an information society. Stresses the role of instructional technology in enhancing existing educational specialties. Foresees as the role of future teachers of information science the development and operation of school computer technology systems. Calls for new criteria for evaluating…

Whether software-based mediated instruction reduces the incidence of misconceptions and errors by children learning the LOGO computer language was studied with 24 fourth and 46 second graders. Mediated instruction reduced errors and misconceptions compared to those detected in prior studies. The roles of working memory and true misunderstandings…

Discussion of teachers' knowledge of instructional design principles highlights a required computer literacy course for preservice teachers that was redesigned to include substantial components to teach instructional design. Results of a study that was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the instructional design training are described. (18…

Describes a study of first-year students at a university in Scotland that was conducted to determine their use of computers at home and in school, their knowledge about information technology, and reasons for not studying computing. Results are compared with two earlier studies to examine gender-related differences over time. (Contains 12…

Reports on a study of college computer-science students that investigated possible benefits and shortcomings in the learning outcomes of novices who use a case-based hypermedia instructional environment. Highlights include cognitive-flexibility theory, influence of epistemic beliefs on student learning, experimental hypotheses, and results of…

Despite the multiple potential benefits of asking students working on programming tasks to consider human factors, most programming assignments narrowly focus on technical details and requirements. Female students in particular may be attracted to assignments that emphasize human as well as technical factors. To assess how students respond to…

What factors contribute to the acceptance of a new discipline? The disciplinary map is not static but not all candidate disciplines find acceptance in the academy. This article presents a case study of the acceptance of a discipline in one university. It argues that a close association with an existing high-status discipline was fundamental to the…

Computing is a complex, multidisciplinary field that requires a range of professional proficiencies. Computing students are expected to develop in-depth knowledge and skills, integrate and apply their knowledge flexibly to solve complex problems, and work successfully in teams. However, many students who graduate with degrees in computing fail to…

In this article, we present CTRL_SPACE: a design for a software environment with companion hardware, developed to introduce preliterate children to basic computational concepts by means of an animatronic face, whose individual features serve as an analogy for a programmable object. In addition to presenting the environment, this article briefly…

Teaching future knowledge engineers, the necessary skills for designing and implementing intelligent software solutions required by business, industry and research today, is a very tall order. These skills are not easily taught in traditional undergraduate computer science lectures; nor are the practical experiences easily reinforced in laboratory…

The purpose of this study was to assess structural knowledge change across a two-week workshop designed to provide high-school teachers with training in Java and Object Oriented Programming. Both before and after the workshop, teachers assigned relatedness ratings to pairs of key concepts regarding Java and Object Oriented Programming. Their…