The "communications revolution" and its impact on education is discussed, and definitions of services are provided. Educational applications of communication (the combination of computers and communications) are described and roles for colleges and universities in expanding data communications use are suggested. (BH)

Discusses three possible contributions of information science technology and techniques to health information from the perspective of the health information needs of various populations: (1) extraction of a specific report passage or sentence in machine-readable form; (2) development of controlled vocabularies and thesauri; and (3) development of…

A cohort survival model of student attendance provides primary and secondary benefits in accurate student information not before available. At Berkeley the computerized Cohort Survival History File, in use for two years, has been successful in assessing various aspects of students' academic behavior and student flow problems. (Editor/LBH)

Describes a format for assignments that trains students to write short, persuasive essays. Essay topics address how software available in the computing lab can use a computing technique. Points are scored by making multiple concise arguments that answer different aspects of the essay question. (PVD)

Discusses user participation and participatory design in the context of formal education for computing professionals. Topics include the current curriculum debate; mathematical- and engineering-based education; traditional system-development training; and an example of a course program that includes computers and society, and prototyping. (53…

A survey of United Kingdom universities investigated the nature and extent of group learning/group assessment in undergraduate computer science courses. Qualitative and quantitative data assessed amount and control of group learning/group assessment, methods of grading groups, and teachers' attitudes toward groups. Results show the approach to be…

Describes a study conducted on the attitudes of students towards the integration of the Web as a channel of communication and a study tool in traditional distance teaching of Computer Science (CS) at the Open University of Israel. Results of questionnaires show the Web cannot substitute entirely for face-to-face learning. (Author/LRW)

Describes the use of the Flesch readability and interest formulae to evaluate textbooks intended for use in college level introductory educational computing courses. Variables that influence what textbook is chosen for a college course are discussed, and readability scores, human interest categories, and subject matter coverage are examined in…

Compares student achievement in introductory computer science courses before and after the introduction of a competency-based course syllabus. Finds little difference in the performance of 1988 and 1989 summer students. Fall competency-based students had a higher dropout rate but increased performance. (DMM)

Describes a program that trained 65 experienced bilingual educators to write and adapt educational computer software in their primary languages, to revise curricula accordingly, and to write grants to bring hardware and software into their classrooms. Discusses participant selection, program curriculum, community involvement, and interdepartmental…

Discussion of artificial intelligence (AI) and expert systems focuses on their use in education. Characteristics of good expert systems are explained; computer software programs that contain applications of AI are described, highlighting one used to help educators identify learning-disabled students; and the future of AI is discussed. (LRW)

This final article in a series on creating models for teaching about computer memory and disk storage and retrieval focuses on AppleWorks software and the Professional Disk Operating System (ProDOS). Instructions for creating a paper model of the AppleWorks menu system and the ProDOS disk file are given. (LRW)

A process developed at Colorado State University to assess college students' knowledge of microcomputers prior to taking an introductory microcomputer course uses self-questionnaires to place students in the microcomputer learning curve according to their knowledge of and interest in microcomputers. Students can then be grouped into different…

Describes the history of computer science departments at universities in China. Educational principles that characterize Chinese computer science education are discussed, selection of students for universities is described, and curricula for both undergraduate and graduate computer science studies are outlined. (LRW)

Trends in computer programing language design are described and children's difficulties in learning to write programs for mathematics problems are considered. Languages are compared under the headings of imperative programing, functional programing, logic programing, and pictures. (DC)