In the proliferation of articles about using computers in the composition classroom published in the last five or ten years, few mention anything about preparing students to compose on a computer while all assert that computers do indeed help the composing process. Preparing students to compose on a computer involves three major processes:…

Keyboarding was taught to a group of 26 fourth- and fifth-grade students in a self-contained classroom by an elementary classroom teacher using an Apple IIe microcomputer and two software programs: "Gregg Personal Keyboarding" and "Typing Tutor II." Intervention spanned 52 class days, including pre-, mid-, and posttest days,…

Because of the crucial nature of the technical literacy problem and the necessity for employees to be able to understand and apply information contained in technical manuals, a technical literacy test was developed in order to identify the level of a person's familiarity with or likely aptitude for work using a computer. The information yielded by…

This paper explores the issue of how, when, and where to teach keyboarding at the elementary school level through a review of the keyboarding literature and descriptions of three studies conducted with fifth grade students in the laboratory school at the University of Wyoming. The literature review briefly summarizes findings on the following…

This guide provides a collection of ideas for word processing activities that teachers have found to be useful in special education classes. The guide begins with a list of 41 computer skills, the grade levels at which the skills are usually introduced (from kindergarten to secondary levels), and provides names of commercial programs which may be…

This study assessed the status of touch-typing in school districts in Oregon and Washington, and developed and field tested a comprehensive training program designed to prepare elementary teachers to teach touch-typing skills to elementary students. There were four major activities: (1) a questionnaire was developed and mailed to a random sample…

Two studies explored parental expectations and home computer practice in families with special needs children. The first involved 48 parents of special needs children, aged 3.6 to 14.5 years. On a coping instrument, a mood scale, and a difficulties and expectations scale, parents indicated that important concerns for their children included:…