Three aspects to be considered when teaching a one-semester beginning economics statistics course are coverage, mastery, and applications. There is a difference between coverage and mastery. Moreover, mastery is not an end in itself; instructors must consider how statistics courses will influence students' approaches to other subjects and…

This background paper for a symposium on the school of the future reviews the current instructional applications of computers in the classroom (the computer as a means or the subject of instruction), and suggests strategies that administrators might use to move toward viewing the computer as a productivity tool for students, i.e., its use for word…

Noting that composition teachers would like computers in order to facilitate the mechanics of writing, analyze text, and correct problems, this paper argues that classroom computer applications are limited because computers cannot analyze text the way a reader would. The paper first posits that readers look at text in terms of semantics and…

The report describes a project examining computer-assisted instruction for severely/multiply handicapped students. An underlying thrust of the project was to provide multiply handicapped children with opportunities to learn to control events as part of their daily activities. The approach featured 26 pupils (5-21 years old) using three activities:…

In an examination of the opinions and needs of special educators regarding computer instructional uses for learning disabled students, 353 teachers, including special education and regular class educators, responded to a questionnaire about concerns and perceptions of computer uses for learning disabled students. Results indicated the continuing…

The Technology in Education Program, established in 1970, was purposed to help college teachers test the instructional uses of new communication technologies. Preliminary results have been encouraging, although there are problems in training opportunities, technology refinements, and software development. (LBH)

Winners of a contest run by the EDUCOM Software Initiative, a project to promote development and dissemination of instructional software for higher education, are identified. Criteria included the appropriateness of the software for use in higher education, its reliability, appeal and ease of use, etc. (MLW)

Offers some suggestions for using a microcomputer in class when only one work station is available. (JC)

Summarizes a teaching experiment in which two data management software packages--PFS:File and PFS:Reports, were adapted for classroom instruction to introduce social studies vocabulary concepts using the semantic feature method. (HTH)

This checklist provides guidelines for designing computer screen displays and evaluating those designed by others. The checklist covers three important aspects of designing a computer screen display: how the screen looks, how the screen interacts with users, and evaluating the screen. (MBR)

Used Knefelkamp's and Slepitza's (1976) model of career-related intellectual development to investigate how students at different levels of development think as they interact with a computer-assisted career guidance system, DISCOVER II, which comprises modules on understanding interests, values, and abilities; searching for occupations based on…

Offers annotated references to both print materials and software packages used for teaching writing. (MS)

Describes a system of editing compositions on an IBM PC that allows students to see how to correct their mistakes. Gives directions for formatting two columns--one for text and one for corrections. (Author/LMO)

Notes two trends in the development of basal-related software and describes the Scott, Foresman Reading Courseware and the Ginn Reading Software. (JC)

Uses examples from four exercises to show how computer-based education (CBE) is used to teach problem-solving in a physiology course. Screen prints are included to illustrate the exercises. Several benefits of using CBE strategies in physiology are also considered. (JN)