This article describes a computer simulation of bacterial physiology during growth in a chemostat. The program was designed to help students to appreciate and understand the related effects of parameters which influence plasmid persistence in bacterial populations. (CW)

Defines computer literacy and describes a computer literacy course which stresses ethics, hardware, and disk operating systems throughout. Core units on keyboarding, word processing, graphics, database management, problem solving, algorithmic thinking, and programing are outlined, together with additional units on spreadsheets, simulations,…

We report the findings of an empirical analysis of the performance of a group of middle and high school students before and after an after-school algebra enrichment program using the SimCalc software incorporating classroom networks. The results highlight statistically significant gains in their learning and briefly outline contributing factors of…

The 15 conference papers in this report address a variety of issues such as computer applications in mechanics and optics, three-dimensional representation in physics teaching, computers in the physics laboratory, information technologies, the perceptual approach in physics education, improving students' conceptual understanding in physics, using…

Describes chemistry software that is part of a balanced educational program. Provides several applications including graphs of various relationships among the elements. Includes a brief historical treatment of the periodic table and compares the traditional historical approach with perspectives gained by manipulating an electronic database. (DDR)

Describes a study that examined the relationships in achievement between members of dyads who were paired according to epistemological maturity. Each dyad engaged in a photosynthesis simulation exercise. Also examines the relationship between individual students' epistemological maturity and their understanding of photosynthesis. Contains 24…

Reviewed are two computer software packages: "Super Solvers Midnight Rescue!" a problem-solving program for IBM PCs; and "Interactive Physics," a simulation program for the Macintosh computer. The functions of the package are discussed including strengths and weaknesses and teaching suggestions. (CW)

Discussed is the concept of mirroring in which computer programs are used to enhance the use of mathematics manipulatives. The strengths and weaknesses of this approach are presented. The uses of the computer in modeling and as a manipulative are also described. Several software packages are suggested. (CW)

Provides a listing of a software graphics program that investigates the law of reflection and Snell's law of refraction. Written in BASIC for the Apple II personal computer. (MVL)

Describes a program which allows students to identify and characterize several kinetic inhibitory mechanisms. Uses the generic model of reversible inhibition of a monosubstrate enzyme but can be easily modified to run other models such as bisubstrate enzymes. Uses MS-DOS BASIC. (MVL)

Discussion of the use of new technologies in science instruction focuses on the medium of CD ROM. Topics discussed include database retrieval; simulations and laboratory experiments; videodisks; hypertext; and software and interfaces for laboratory experiments. A list of math and science resources is provided. (LRW)

Two graphics interface packages, PHIGS and HOOPS, are examined. A comparison of the two packages is made in light of the Iowa State University College of Engineering's need for educational software. Conclusions based on programing experience using both PHIGS and HOOPS are presented. (KR)

Laboratory exercises, field observations and field trips are a fundamental part of many earth science and environmental science courses. Field observations and field trips can be constrained because of distance, time, expense, scale, safety, or complexity of real-world environments. Our objectives were to develop an environmental virtual field…

With the advent of the microcomputer has come an increase in the use of educational simulations. Distinct from software used for drill and practice, tutorials, or problem-solving, simulation software recreates events, devices, or phenomena and can provide the student with a scientific experience which might otherwise be too expensive, dangerous,…

This paper describes a theoretical perspective in which teacher performance and classroom procedures in technology-based settings can be observed and compared. The paper uses as an example the Systems Thinking and Curriculum Innovation Network (STACIN) Project, which implements a simulation-modeling software package as an analytic problem solving…