The application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to the design of personal learning environments is an enterprise of both theoretical and practical interest. In the short term, the process of developing and testing intelligent tutoring programs serves as a new experimental vehicle for exploring alternative cognitive and pedagogical…

One of the objectives of Project TACT is to determine the potential of a gamut of educational media. The working papers in this set have a basis in pictorial information produced through computer graphics. These papers are intended to serve as a basis for sharpening questions, delineating the context within which the answers might be significant,…

A computer-based education system, PLATO (Programed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), has been used to teach nursing students at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Urbana, Illinois since 1963. PLATO III, the model now being used in a maternity nursing course, has 70 student terminals (20 of which can be used at any one time) connected to…

Abstracts of 23 papers given at the conference are presented. These deal with a variety of subjects related to educational uses of computers, including: 1) information networking, 2) computer-managed test item banks, 3) learner-controlled instruction and courseware, 4) computer-assisted instructional (CAI) systems such as Coursewriter III and…

Several plotter programs written by 11th and 12th grade mathematics students are presented, along with two examples illustrating how a student can contribute to non-computer courses using knowledge gained from Project Solo. A curriculum module called "Enumeration" is presented which illustrates a computer-oriented approach to a typical…

Computer output microfilm (COM) is a method of converting data from a computer directly into human readable language on microfilm. This monograph provides an overview of the COM field including a general review of COM technology, a state-of-the-art summary, an equipment guide, a directory of systems service companies, a review of several COM…

Two computer programs for computer-assisted performance training were developed to give the students the opportunity for concentrated practice of troubleshooting and procedural tasks in naval electronics. In contrast to the usual approach taken in computer-assisted instruction (CAI), these programs simulate essential aspects of devices and tasks…

Computer languages are analyzed and compared from the standpoint of the science teacher using computers in the classroom. Computers have three basic uses in teaching, to compute, to instruct, and to motivate; effective computer languages should be responsive to these three modes. Widely-used languages, including FORTRAN, ALGOL, PL/1, and APL, are…

This report consists of four parts. The first part is a non-technical summary of the basic problem and an attempted solution. The second part is a technical review of the literature and a description of the basic algorithm used in the solution. The third part describes the use of the Sociogram System. The fourth part describes the use of CHAIN, a…

To study the effects of learner generated imagery on the learning of science material a series of three experiments were conducted. Interactive graphics using the plasma panel, a touch panel interface of the PLATO system, were used to simulate the topography and functions of a battery to teach elementary concepts in electrochemistry. Following a…

The effectiveness of the SCHOLAR computer-assisted instruction system was compared with: (1) the interactive map display of Map-SCHOLAR; (2) a static labeled map; and (3) an unlabeled map. Students learned significantly more with the interactive map display than with either of the other maps. A new method, backtrace analysis, was used to assess…

Describes a computer program that allows undergraduate students to undertake nomenclature tutorials in organic chemistry, where user response is evaluated based on a set of rules that determine appropriate feedback. Design of the software is described, including the use of computer graphics, and results of students' evaluations are briefly…

Presents detailed guidelines based on the literature for screen layout and design of online catalogs, and discusses the potential advantages in terms of number of transactions per hour and user satisfaction. Further research questions are suggested and an extensive bibliography is provided. (CLB)

Describes differences between authoring systems and authoring languages for teachers interested in creating their own educational software, discusses selection criteria and features to consider before choosing a package, recommends specific authoring systems and Pilot language programs, and provides a chart of currently available packages. (MBR)

Routines developed for an ongoing course in research methods and statistics provides examples of the custom instructional applications that can be created using extended BASIC and a light pen, including title and transition displays, progressive disclosure, animation, overlays, and simulations. Strengths of this technique are reviewed. (MBR)