This report describes a project undertaken with students in grades 5 through 7 in the Toms River (New Jersey) Regional School District to develop a technique for integrating microcomputers and VCRs (videocassette recorders). Following an overview of the program, a brief review of research on technology in the classroom is presented along with a…

This paper reports the results of two semesters of experience using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to teach topics in program evaluation to undergraduate and graduate psychology students at California State University, Long Beach. (The topics addressed are models of evaluation, evaluability assessment, needs assessment, experimental and…

Developed to share information presented at a Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Regional Exchange (SEDL/RX) conference, this document includes reports and related materials on educational computing applications in southwestern school districts and states. Basic computer terminology is defined, and software evaluation instruments are…

The videodisc, audiodisc, overlapping instruction, mapping, adaptive testing strategies, intricate instructional branching, and complex media selection models are common expectations for quality courseware today. A two team development structure, consisting of an instructional development team and a test development team, is proposed. This paper…

In early computer assisted instruction (CAI), negative feedback often insulted students and/or provided no useful knowledge. In classroom settings, teachers use the following approaches in dealing with students' wrong answers: (1) ask the question again, louder and slower; (2) ask the question again, using different words; (3) back up and reteach…

Robert Tinker, President of The Concord Consortium, announces that through a series of grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Education, the Concord Consortium has been able to produce amazing and innovative software packages and have incorporated them into hundreds of powerful learning activities. Whatever…

Description of Atenea, the Spanish National Project for Computers in Education, focuses on the use of computer simulation and modeling in elementary and secondary education. Highlights include system dynamics, training courses for teachers, a microcomputer-based software package called System Dynamics Simulator for Education (SDSE), and a list of…

Describes Philips Interactive Laser Vision Authoring System (PHILVAS), a special-purpose authoring system designed to prepare programs for controlling interactive video systems. Ease of authoring with PHILVAS is illustrated by a case study and comparisons with two other dialog programing tools. Advantages of PHILVAS are listed. (MBR)

Explains the computer-based modeling "language" of Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation (STELLA) and its applications to environmental education. Describes STELLA's interactive capabilities through an example of a program on predator-prey interactions. Recommends the use of STELLA for clarification of…

Develops generalizations for empirical evaluation of software based upon suitability of several research designs--pretest posttest control group, single-group pretest posttest, nonequivalent control group, time series, and regression discontinuity--to type of software being evaluated, and on circumstances under which evaluation is conducted. (MBR)

Discussion of intelligent computer assisted learning (CAL) systems considers both those that offer natural language communication to the user and those that are adaptive, generative, or self-improving. Current interest in student-built learning environments (exemplified by work with LOGO and PROLOG) is examined, and obstacles to future intelligent…

Presents an outline for creating appropriate courseware from commercial business education software. An example outline is provided to illustrate how a commercial game can be transformed into an educationally sound piece of courseware. (CT)

The incorporation of computer experiences into a nutrition education course for elementary education majors is discussed. The course consisting of five hours of class each week for eight weeks, is designed to teach nutrition principles and methods of integrating these principles into elementary curricula at various grade levels. (BC)

Provides a list of statements which focus on: (1) computers in education; (2) the current situation with computers in schools; (3) courseware production; and (4) computers and the future of education. One of the points noted is that training is a major problem since few districts are approaching it adequately. (JN)

XML, the extensible markup language, is a quickly evolving technology that presents a viable alternative to courseware products and promises to ease the burden of Web authors, who edit their course pages directly. XML uses tags to label kinds of contents, rather than format information. The use of XML enables faculty to focus on providing…