Course management systems (CMSs), such as Blackboard, Desire2Learn, or WebCT, have become a common resource at universities, colleges, and distance learning organizations. Research into how these systems are used for learning is in an early state. Currently, this research focuses on technical features in a CMS more than research about how people…

Proposes a whole-class view of microworld design in which the total ecology of students, technology, and teacher is considered by the decisions and choices of the design. Presents a case study analysis of a secondary school classroom implementation with a geometry microworld and discusses student affect, participation, and the role of educational…

Analyzes, as a function of grade level, the representation of gender, competition, and violence in 17 top-selling software programs designed for mathematics education. Results indicate that mean percentages of violence, competition against the program and competition against a peer increase across grade level; mean percentages of female characters…

Discussion of the effectiveness of computer-managed instruction (CMI) focuses on a study that examined the perceptions of administrators, teachers, and parents of the value and effectiveness of a commercial CMI program. The implementation of the program in support of the elementary reading curriculum in a metropolitan school system is described.…

Describes a study of undergraduates that was conducted to describe differences in anxiety in students entering two computer courses (i.e., a problem-solving and programing course and a software applications course) and to assess changes in anxiety levels attributed to each course. Further research is suggested. (19 references) (LRW)

Describes the development of the Computer Game Attitude Scale (CGAS) which evaluates student attitudes toward educational computer games and is based on the Computer Attitude Scale. Results of a study conducted with middle school students are discussed; these results indicate that the CGAS produced reliable test scores that may aid in evaluation.…

This study investigated potential differences in learning between two instructional activities: reading from a text and using a computer simulation. Participants were undergraduate students with limited knowledge of the domain topic (project management). Participants in both conditions (Simulation and Text) improved equally on a decontextualized,…

Describes the design of a hypermedia tool for helping preservice teachers learn about the growth and development of children's mathematical reasoning based on research in cognitive science, and discusses results of an experiment that used single-subject methodology to compare preservice teachers' learning with the hypermedia tool versus learning…

This proof-of-concept investigation describes a computer-based approach for deriving the knowledge structure of individuals and of groups from their written essays, and considers the convergent criterion-related validity of the computer-based scores relative to human rater essay scores and multiple-choice test scores. After completing a…

A year-long study of 131 second and third graders in 12 classrooms compared three daily 20-minute treatments. a) Fifty-eight students in six classrooms used the 1999-2000 version of Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor, a computer program that uses automated speech recognition to listen to a child read aloud, and gives spoken and graphical assistance.…

Describes the ECOSET project, developed by the European Community to collect data on the current state of formative and summative evaluation activities regarding courseware used within the classroom in Europe. Evaluation instruments and evaluation techniques are described, and their cultural embeddedness and curricular dependencies are discussed.…

Modern technologies can provide language students with authentic content and contextualized, collaborative learning situations. This article illustrates how e-mail exchanges, Web exercises, and CD-ROM development between students in the United States and organizations in Ecuador can promote contextualized and authentic practice of Spanish language…

Describes aptitude treatment interaction study that used the cognitive styles field dependence and independence matched with computerized algorithmic and discovery treatments to determine mathematics achievement on a criterion-referenced test. Posttest mathematics scores and student responses to the computer are analyzed, and mastery learning is…

Examines how software designed to complement resource-based approaches to reading and writing ("Kid's Space") fared in four elementary classrooms. Results of the pilot study indicate that given the right conditions, children write creatively in response to visual and auditory stimuli. Effective methods of integrating and valuing online work are…

This article discusses the difficult issues of balancing faculty and university rights and responsibilities regarding courseware developed either as commissioned or non-commissioned work in higher education. The article addresses the varied concerns among university personnel and higher education institutions, reviews two major models for…