Utah State University's intensive Spanish program uses video simulations of real-life experiences as the basis for classroom instruction in lieu of following a textbook, allowing the class to become student-centered, rather than instructor-centered, through a problem-solving group endeavor. (Author/CB)

Described is a computer simulation that was used to help general education students enrolled in a large introductory geology course. The purpose of the simulation is to learn to interpret incomplete data. Students design a plan to collect bathymetric data for an area of the ocean. Procedures used by the students and instructor are included.…

Reviews a classroom experience which used the computer simulation "Decisions, Decisions: Immigration" in a secondary school social studies class. Highlights include descriptions of the decision making process, rank ordering of priorities, political and social issues relating to immigration, and benefits of teaching the simulation. (LRW)

Modeled after the program "Mastermind," this program teaches students the art of protein sequencing. The program (written in Turbo Pascal for the IBM PC, requiring 128K, a graphics adapter, and an 8070 mathematics coprocessor) generates a polypeptide whose sequence and length can be user-defined (for practice) or computer-generated (for…

Dicusses three education "anchors" weighing students down: adherence to print, overreliance on facts, and one-way transmission of information. Appropriate computer software can enliven a boring classroom by streamlining repetitive tasks (like revising and editing) and encouraging interactive construction of ideas. (MLH)

Describes a computer-based instructional unit in cardiovascular physiology. The program (which employs simulated laboratory experimental techniques with a problem-solving format is designed to supplement an animal laboratory and to offer students an integrative approach to physiology through use of microcomputers. Also presents an overview of the…

Describes instructional development process applied to the design, production, implementation, and evaluation of a computer simulation designed to provide troubleshooting practice for individuals who maintain and install large digital telephone switches. The major organizational benefits resulting from use of the simulation are discussed. (MBR)

Examines educational technology (EdTech) in Florida using the future-is-here-now technique, suggesting transposition of teaching/learning, rezoning research, and elasticizing experience. Scenarios are provided to illustrate computer-enhanced collaborative learning, electronic messaging (teleconferencing) and simulation or interactive gaming. (JN)

Discusses the use of a computer simulation program in teaching the concepts of spectrophotometry. Introduces several parts of the program and program usage. Presents an assessment activity to evaluate students' mastery of material. Concludes with the advantages of this approach to the student and to the assessor. (ASK)

Evaluates the importance of realism in the screen presentation of the plant in computer-based laboratory simulations for part-time engineering students. Concludes that simulations are less effective than actual laboratories but that realism minimizes the disadvantages. The schematic approach was preferred for ease of use. (AIM)

To effectively integrate information technology into classroom activities, preservice teachers must know a variety of computer concepts. Presents a model used to instruct preservice teachers in programming activities based on simulation and interactive learning. Students gained an understanding of computer roles, their programming, and…

Describes an interactive computer program that simulates the physiological response to graded exercise in healthy individuals. The program presents high-resolution graphic data in a form comparable to that of a chart recorder display. Data are derived from an empirical model that allows users to select parameters to investigate. The program was…

Reports the results of research that examined ways in which a computer simulation of a banking workplace influenced high schoolstudents' general knowledge and understanding about the world of work. Results indicated students who used the simulation had a broader sense of work and had more subtle understandings of current trade-offs than did…

Considers whether critical thinking can be trained with computer-based instruction. Reviews literature on the effects of cognitive tools, collaborative computer-supported environments, computer simulations, and logic software on critical thinking, and reports on two experimental studies at the University of Erfurt that instructed undergraduates in…

Describes a computer simulation designed to examine secondary school students' strategies in solving a physics problem involving the velocity of a rocket. Students' beliefs about dynamics are discussed, use of the LOGO programing language to explore the idea of velocity is described, and ways in which simulations can support teachers' diagnostic…