Intended for use by teachers, administrators, and boards of education in Tennessee as they make decisions about the instructional and managerial uses of microcomputers in education, this handbook is structured around several main topics: (1) basic microcomputer information, including microcomputer components and peripheral equipment, computer…

This report summarizes a study on the impact of the introduction of microcomputers into the instructional programs of two elementary school districts in suburban Chicago that included an examination of teacher attitudes and feelings related to microcomputers. It describes the districts and the kinds of hardware and software they use and contrasts…

Checklists cover six important dimensions of computer use in social studies: (1) what a computer can do to achieve educational goals, (2) planning for implementation, (3) major modes of computer uses in education, (4) important qualities, (5) technical features of good educational computer programs, and (6) checking out software. (RM)

A five-phase study was conducted to evaluate all major computer systems used in writing IEPs (individualized education programs) in California. A "manual" sample composed of four Special Education Local Planning Agencies (SELPAs) that did not use computers was surveyed and responses compared with SELPAs that did use computers. An analysis of…

This report describes a collection of procedures, with illustrative examples, for selecting and portraying microcomputer courseware in a manner that enables others to make their own judgments of courseware quality. Following a discussion of perspective and a report outline, section 3 deals with assumptions underlying the search to identify…

Guidelines and steps for reviewing and selecting computerized instructional materials are reviewed. (MP)

This 322-point checklist was designed to help executives make an intelligent choice when selecting a small computer for a business. For ease of use the questions have been divided into ten categories: Display Features, Keyboard Features, Printer Features, Controller Features, Software, Word Processing, Service, Training, Miscellaneous, and Costs.…

This guide, prepared under the direction of the Instructional Affairs Committee of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), is designed to serve all educators interested in the instructional applications of computers. Its development has been marked by a continuous, conscious effort to address the needs of all educators irrespective…

Offers thoughts concerning the difficulties school administrators face in choosing microcomputer equipment and software with technology improving so rapidly. General purpose software and specific applications are discussed, and a checklist of 18 questions for administrators to use during initial inquiries about software packages is included. (EJS)

The details and process of evaluating computerized instructional materials are presented for the major classes of such materials, i.e., courseware--the set of computer programs with which the student interacts directly to learn--and instructional software--the instructional facilities, services, or general operations which include management and…

This report begins with a summary and discussion of computer programs on site prior to fall 1983, classroom computers, mainframe computers, and major goals for computing. A chart summarizing methods of achievement of the system-wide computing plan details its goals, objectives, and actual or projected completion dates. An overview of…

This guide gives step-by-step directions for authoring computer-assisted instruction materials as well as advice on planning, designing, coding, documenting, and evaluating computer assisted courseware. The importance of prospective courseware designers having a sound background in both educational theory and practice is also discussed, and…

This guide developed by MicroSIFT, a clearinghouse for microcomputer-based educational software and courseware, provides background information and forms to aid teachers and other educators in evaluating available microcomputer courseware. The evaluation process comprises four stages: (1) sifting, which screens out those programs that are not…

This document reports the results of a survey on the use of microcomputers for classroom instruction in New York state school districts, which was conducted as a project of the steering committee of the New York Statewide Instructional Computing Network (SICN), an organization of New York educators designed to provide a means for sharing…

This document describes the operation and quality of pre-college instructional software sold for use on microcomputers. It also assists in locating other sources of similar information about instructional software. This edition is limited to programs for the Apple II, Commodore PET, and Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I. Fifty reviews of software…