Discusses software metrics and describes a study of graduate students in Hong Kong that evaluated the relevance of using software metrics as a means of assessing students' performance in programing. The use of four basic metrics to measure programing skill, complexity, programing style, and programing efficiency using Pascal is examined. (13…

This study investigated the use of the PLATO III computer assisted instruction (CAI) system to assist in the teaching of an electrical network theory course. It sought to: 1) identify the topics and teaching strategies most amenable to CAI system; 2) develop computer programs needed to teach those topics; 3) use, evaluate and service the programs;…

VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WERE REPORTED. MATERIALS WERE DEVELOPED TO COVER 6 WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE SECOND SEMESTER OF HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 INDIVIDUAL QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FRAMES WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE MATERIALS. TO DETERMINE THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MATERIALS TO STUDENT…

In an attempt to selectively improve student performance, one-half of a set of difficult test items from a FORTRAN programming class had handouts explaining the concepts underlying the items distributed to the students. Each handout contained a written learning objective, a short prose passage explaining the objective, and one or more practice…

This paper discusses the results of research on learning LOGO programming language by two groups of fifth grade students who were taught using either a structured tutorial mode or an unstructured discovery method. Previous results showed mastery differences between the structured and unstructured teaching methods with the results favoring the…

The purpose of this study was to compare experimentally the relative effectiveness of two instructional media--a computer-based display unit and a programed-text booklet--for presenting selected instructional units of a common program for teaching FORTRAN IV. In conducting the study a common program for teaching FORTRAN was prepared and presented…

Discussion of the use of microcomputers in education focuses on the use of microcomputers for evaluation purposes. A study that collected performance data on both college students and the evaluation instrument is described, reliability and validity of the test are discussed, and the use of microcomputers to redesign instructional systems is…

This final report presents a summary and second-year findings of a 2-year project designed to measure the effectiveness of microcomputer instruction on reading and mathematics skills, classroom behavior, general cognitive development, and problem-solving ability of 700 disabled students (ages 3-11) enrolled in four special education schools in New…

Presents the underlying ideas of the Software Cost Reduction (SCR) approach to requirements specifications. Results of applying this approach to the teaching of programing to high school students indicate that students perform better in writing programs. An appendix provides two examples of how the method is applied to problem solving. (MDH)