Until computers revolutionized the process of preparing hometown news releases, they were the most tedious job of the college news services. Word processors merge data on individual students with a basic 'shell' story. The computer can generate better, more personalized stories, process standard stories more efficiently, and distribute releases…

The concerns of how personal computers can be used to increase the overall effectiveness of education are addressed. Topics discussed include: availability; teacher use; word processing; calculators; class use; computer-assisted-instruction; and simulations. Thorough faculty inservice on computer enhanced education is suggested before implementing…

Microcomputers are used in a technical writing course to enhance instructor and student productivity, improve the quality of student writing performance, and prepare young engineers for future on-the-job communication tasks. Describes the microcomputer facility, software, and activities included in the course. Also provides information on the…

Review of computer software offering text editing/processing capabilities highlights work habits, elements of computer style and composition, buffers, the CRT, line- and screen-oriented text editors, video attributes, "swapping,""cache" memory, "disk emulators," text editing versus text processing, and UNIX operating…

Defines and describes the components and functions that constitute a microcomputer--bits, bytes, address register, cycle time, data path, and bus. Characteristics of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit machines are explained in detail, and microprocessor evolution, architecture, and implementation are discussed. Application characteristics or types for each bit…

Focusing on the process of composition, lists and discusses problems students have in prewriting, writing, and revising. Solutions to these problems, which involve computer use, include making students aware of the composition process, writing strategies good writers use, audience analysis, grammar review, and need for peer review. (JN)

Offers tips on using computers effectively in high school journalism programs. (MM)

It is proposed that teachers can exploit the calculator function of a standard microcomputer word processor to create an electronic gradebook. A method is described for computing overall evaluations from component grades of different types and weights on a word processor to instantly calculate the composite for each student at desired intervals.…

A method for downloading Lexis documents to the WordPerfect program and removing extraneous codes and characters is described. Use of a specific utility program is recommended, and a specific sequence of procedures and hints for streamlining the process are offered. (MSE)

A survey of 287 staff developers was conducted during October 1986 to gather information on the use of computers in staff development offices. Questionnaires were mailed to every fifth member of the National Staff Development Council; 92 completed instruments were returned within one month for a return rate of 32%. Areas covered by the survey…

Uses of Apple II microcomputers with special-education students are described. Many such students can overcome handicaps with the computers. Use of word processing, the role of motivation, and individual attention are stressed. (MNS)

Reviews the functions that should be included in an analytical workstation. Also discusses the common data file structures and the techniques of data interchange between software modules and presents a brief overview of commercial products and their interfacing characteristics. These software include word processors, spreadsheets, database…

Describes a game-like writing exercise that uses the principle of "divide and conquer" to teach technical description. (PD)

The Association of American Publisher's Electronic Manuscript Project covers the development, testing and dissemination of industry standards and author guidelines. The main purposes of the project are to increase productivity of authors and publishers, extend range of product opportunities normally available to publishers, facilitate indexing and…

No college is too small to benefit from the technology explosion. By computerizing the college catalog, a school can save money, time, and trouble. A word processor at the University of Wisconsin is described that edits, stores, and updates its catalog series. (MLW)