Discusses (in question/answer format) criteria to use when evaluating language arts software. Also reviews four programs illustrating principles/ideas considered in these criteria. Programs include: "Story Maker" (grades 3 and above); "Suspect Sentences" (Grades 7-12); "M-ss-ng L-nks" (grades 2 and above); and…

Reviews four programs (equivalent fractions, sentence patterns, bookself-use of Dewey system, career skills) representative of programs on a disk available from Robbinsdale Area Schools (Minneapolis, MN). Indicates programs (for Pet Commodore-16K) are interesting, well laid out, competently programed, and easy to use. (Author/JN)

"The Puzzler," which operates on Apple microcomputers, is designed to assist the teacher as an integral part of classroom reading and language arts instruction. This program is reviewed in terms of eight characteristics considered to be features of the best special-purpose reading tools. (JN)

The application of microtechnology in a school for multiply handicapped children is explained to include a language arts program stressing sentence formation and letter matching, production of artificial speech, and communication aids for physically impaired children. Adaptations for severe physical involvement and for visual impairments are…

A computer program titled "The Bald Headed Chicken," written for the Apple IIE and Apple IIGS, is described. The program enables primary-level students, as well as limited-English-speaking students, to manipulate graphics and text to create their own stories which can then be saved on disk or printed. (Author/JDD)

Reviews computer programs designed to help students in the language arts. Games, mazes, tutorials and other formats are used to help students master vocabulary, story-writing, reading, spelling, and other language arts skills. Program title, format, system requirement, language, current price, and manufacturer are included for each program…

The computer can be used in the classroom to make writing tasks less formidable. The word processor allows the writer to make corrections with less effort than rewriting an entire paper. Students are better able to see an imbalance between what they write and what they intended when writing with a computer. (DF)

Centurion manufactures 10 "microcomputers" (cannot be programed in Basic) which function solely as education drill-practice devices. Two of these devices are reviewed: Versator (for mathematics) and Skillmaster (for generalized drill in any subject area). Instructional materials available for use with the devices are also reviewed. (JN)

Presents activities for language arts, differentiating between a variable name and its value, creating music using PILOT, and playing LOGO games. Includes the article "Take the Turtle to School: A Child's View of Programming" by Jack McLeod. (JN)

Discusses the potential of microcomputers for accomplishing educational goals beyond drill and practice software. Describes a program in which students have access to a computer-based network that connects classrooms in four states, which allows peer response, develops a sense of audience, and gives students greater control over their literacy…

Microcomputers were used by 24 gifted students in a Utah elementary school to produce a school newspaper. Students used word processing (Bank Street Writer) and desktop publishing software (The Newsroom). They met in small groups over a 3-week period to develop basic journalism skills such as interviewing, writing and editing articles. Articles…

Computer games and tutorials for young children are reviewed. These include mathematics and language games, alphabet and number/counting primers, music games, and an arcade game. Program name, format, language, current price, manufacturer, and description are provided for each program reviewed. (JN)

Evaluates reading/language arts, mathematics, general problem-solving, science, social studies, creative arts, foreign languages, computer literacy, and audio-visual author software. Also lists and describes criteria used in the evaluation. (Equipment specifications and sources of software are included.) (JN)

Describes creation of special remediation laboratories in subjects of mathematics, reading, and language arts utilizing computer instruction technology in three high schools in Bristol, Connecticut. Funding sources, program implementation, and evaluation reports are discussed. (EJS)

Eight Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) teachers met with software developers at the Florida Instructional Computing Conference in January 1989. During the session, the panel of ACOT teachers expressed their wants and wishes for educational software and developers responded with their own concerns. The face-to-face communication provided a…