This curriculum guide for computer science was developed to establish statewide curriculum standards for the Louisiana Competency-based Education Program. It consists of: (1) a rationale for and overview of the secondary school mathematics program; (2) a list of five suggestions for using the guide; (3) programming, debugging, and documentation…

Reports on a study designed to investigate the attitudes of practicing teachers and student teachers regarding the educational use of computers. Results indicated that both groups of teachers surveyed believed their students should be computer literate and advocated the increased use of computers in education. (TW)

This paper reports on the findings from a quantitative research study into the use of a software tool that was built to support a part-complete solution method (PCSM) for the learning of computer programming. The use of part-complete solutions to programming problems is one of the methods that can be used to reduce the cognitive load that students…

In anticipation of the educational needs of the late 1980s in science, mathematics, and engineering education, the National Science Foundation has supported a variety of projects that can serve as examples and models of the uses of computing in science education. These projects fall into three categories, focusing on the computer as a tool of…

The authors state that the need to define functional computer literacy is likely to be an ongoing one. They discuss computer literacy skills, barriers to universal application, comprehension skills, and mastery of the operating system. (CT)

Dr. Michael Hoban responds to questions concerning the role and future of computers and microcomputers in education, the design of computer education, computer software, and faculty development. (DMM)

This essay discusses the human, social, and political problems associated with the introduction of new information technologies and computer education into existing schools and indicates 10 choices which face educational policy-makers. Teacher training, availability of software, necessary hardware, the role of higher education, and national policy…

Though computer literacy has become a key educational issue of the 1980s, little attention has been paid to adults over the age of 25 who received their formal education Before Computers (B.C.). One-day seminars (developed at the request of the Smithsonian Institution) designed to satisfy this need are described. (JN)

Suggests computer education activities that can be developed with a single computer, leadership of one staff member, plus one paraprofessional and a core group of interested students. Argues that computer literacy is a societal necessity and a reasonable possibility for even small institutions with limited budgets. (DMM)

Summarizes the different ways that computer systems can help us communicate; examines the social impact of computers, especially in education; and suggests that computers can enhance rather than hinder the interactions between people. (MP)

Computer literacy has evolved from writing simple BASIC programs to using desktop productivity applications. The shift from mainframe to personal computer brought about the need to rethink computer literacy courses to introduce basic skills and familiarity using desktop productivity applications. While these skills remain important, the recent…

Common assumptions concerning the impact of computers on society fail to recognize the complexity of the social settings into which computer technology is introduced or the roles computer applications play in those settings. This paper identifies common ways of conceptualizing computing and points out their weaknesses. The author then discusses…

The first volume of a two-volume computer science curriculum guide, reflecting the technology of the mid-1980s, presents 61 lessons on advanced computer literacy topics for high school students. The majority of the lessons focus on advanced programming skills in BASIC. Other topics covered include word processing, printers, document management,…

Policies and practices which result in differential computer learning opportunities are discussed. Resources designed to remedy gender imbalance in computer learning are given. A list of areas where research is needed is offered. (MT)

Computer literacy is now considered a basic skill as important as the Three R's in Florida, where instructors have been given a legislative mandate to ensure it. A leader in this movement shares the written standards that support this mandate and explains how they were developed. (JN)