The meteoric rise of the computer age is a challenge for public educators, many of whom are still unfamiliar with basic computer technology. Yet many educators are finding that they can correct their misconceptions about computers by becoming "computer aware." Computer awareness comes from gaining a knowledge of computer history; a basic…

The author cites the arrival of the information age and considers its implications for special education. He suggests that special educators must build their information management skills. Four specific applications of microcomputers in special education are addressed: tool applications (in which students use microcomputer technology as personal…

The social and psychological effects of rapid technological advancement in the computer industry is the subject of this paper, which focuses on the concerns of people with non-technical backgrounds. It describes the career series, High Tech for Non-Technical People, created by the Georgia State University Career Development Center. The three…

The continuing growth of computer understanding and use by educators makes it imperative for elementary school principals to become computer literate. Teachers' knowledge and skills relating to computers are increasing; computer costs are declining and computers becoming more readily available; software is improving in response to demand; and the…

This paper suggests activities for school administrators to learn basic technology tools. Step-by-step instructions are provided for browsing and using the Internet, organizing favorite World Wide Web sites, and organizing Internet bookmarks. Interesting job search, legal, and professional organization Web sites for administrators are listed. A…

Designed for use in helping parents to become familiar with their children's microcomputer needs, this guide addresses two important questions: whether parents should provide a computer in the home to assist children in their reading development, and which computer they should purchase. The answer to the first question is a simple yes, but the…

A model for designing efficient teacher training in computer literacy and usage should begin with preplanning to consider the goals, objectives, and purposes of the training; the needs of the teacher/student; the content and sequence of information to be taught; and careful evaluation procedures for use in further planning. Planners must recognize…

The results of a 1982 survey indicated that teachers seeking computer literacy were just as unlikely to have had computer experience as were teachers in general, and were even less likely to feel knowledgeable about computers, but were much more likely to come from districts where computer use by teachers received broad institutional support. This…

In order to apply technological advancements to education, educators must devise on-going training programs for teachers and administrators and create a national policy that gives direction and sets priorities for the use of computer technology in the schools. In-service training for teachers should be based on four premises. First, each part of…

This paper addresses primary objectives related to the design and execution of an instructional computing literacy curriculum for the fourth-year undergraduate teacher education major. The first objective discussed is the presentation of a rationale for providing computer literacy training in a preservice environment, as opposed to an inservice…

Arguing that educators have evolved past the introductory computer literacy stage and now need an enhanced understanding of the uses of the computer as an essential tool of the trade, this paper identifies three factors that need to be considered when designing staff development programs: (1) a review of different cognitive abilities and skills…

This paper discusses the philosophy followed in Palm Beach County to adapt computer literacy curriculum, hardware, and software to meet the needs of all children. The Department of Exceptional Student Education and the Department of Instructional Computing Services cooperated in planning strategies and coordinating efforts to implement equal…

This paper describes one educator's experience with creating multimedia presentation materials for a college computer literacy class. The paper discusses: selecting software--the decision between authoring software and presentation software; selecting hardware--what type of computer systems to select, and issues when classrooms are equipped with…

Designed for community college faculty who plan to employ computers in their classrooms, this paper defines computer literacy as not only knowing how to use computers but also knowing when it is appropriate to do so. The paper provides examples of inappropriate uses of computer technology in education, presents a brief history of the…

Checklists and other materials to be used in planning and implementing computer literacy and computer skills programs in a kindergarten-to-eighth grade school system are presented in this packet, originally intended to supplement oral presentations. The materials were developed in California's Fallbrook Union Elementary School District in the…