Examines the external change forces in the environment and their resultant impact on the internal structure and activities of an organization designed to jointly develop uses of computers and data processing techniques to facilitate the administrative, instruction, and research activities of member school districts. (Author/IRT)

Describes the use of microcomputer database management systems to facilitate the instructional uses of learning strategies relating to information processing skills, especially recall. Two learning strategies, cross-classification matrixing and node acquisition and integration, are highlighted. (Author/LRW)

Subjects in a study of analogic reasoning use in learning a computer language read text describing an invented LISP dialect and then solved problems and described language constructs. Five of six factors studied indicating use of analogy with a familiar computer language showed statistically significant results, supporting the hypothesis.…

Assesses readability levels of selected elementary level microcomputer courseware by using the readability formulas of Dale-Chall and Spache; describes these established formulas; compares assessments with publishers' statements of courseware suitability; and compares results of the manually calculated Dale-Chall and Spache formulas with results…

Summarizes findings from a 1983 survey on instructional computing patterns in Texas school districts that have implications for teacher training. Patterns under investigation were concerned with hardware, courseware, student populations and curriculum areas using computers, computer literacy skills for students, and teacher training efforts. (MBR)

Unsuccessful programing attempts by university business students in introductory COBOL classes were analyzed to determine most frequently occurring syntactical errors. Results indicate the most common errors were use of undeclared data in Procedure Division, missing periods, misspelled reserved words, missing hyphens, and use of wrong margin area.…

Attitudinal measures of training and control group engineering students showed positive and significant gains for the treatment group both in attitude toward the effectiveness of on-line searches and for the number of citations yielded. Cost-effectiveness was greater for on-line searches than for manual searches. (Author/IRT)

A study of teacher attitudes toward and knowledge of computers polled 240 teachers enrolled in computer education classes at Arizona State University. Results revealed a positive correlation between attitude and knowledge level, with teachers indicating an appreciation for classroom computers and expressing interest in expanding their knowledge.…

Describes a study of computer science majors conducted at Purdue University to determine what factors predict academic success or lack of it. Results show that strength in mathematical and verbal skills is necessary for success as indicated by SAT scores, minimum number of high school mathematics credits, and class standing. (MBR)

Three Florida high schools used the computer-based PLATO Basic Skills Mathematics program for remedial mathematics lessons. Students showed a median gain of 1.5 grade equivalents and improved attitudes toward mathematics and school. A model of the project's cost effectiveness indicates the need to manage the program carefully. (Author/RW)

Describes performance criteria for users of computer assisted instruction (CAI) that are used to provide users with feedback about their performance relative to other users. This study evaluated 146 novice users on their percentages of correct responses, time required for completion, and number of times the CAI tutorial was performed. (LRW)

Describes an Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) study which evaluated 163 elementary and secondary education microcomputer courseware programs for intent, content, methods and approach, and evaluation, to discover whether trends existed across areas and courseware types, and to determine strengths and weaknesses of available…

Describes a system for payroll reporting from geographically disparate locations in which data is entered, edited, and verified locally on minicomputers and then uploaded to a central computer for the standard payroll process. Communications and hardware, time-reporting software, data input techniques, system implementation, and its advantages are…

Presents a validation procedure for the Computer Literacy Examination: Cognitive Aspect, a test assessing high school students' computer literacy levels. Steps in the test's construction process are explained, data collected during its validation phase are analyzed, and conclusions on its validity and reliability are discussed. The final test…

High school students were surveyed to determine factors affecting elective participation in introductory computer courses. Responses were analyzed in relation to computer experience and sex of student. Results indicate significant differences in perceptions of science and math needed for entry level computer courses. (Author/MBR)