Investigates the potential use of geographic-information systems (GIS), a computerized spatial-analysis tool, for teaching geography to elementary students. Finds that GIS offers students opportunities to practice geographic skills and is highly motivating, but it can create frustration. Suggests several promising approaches to using GIS at the…

Provides an overview of a Vygotskian perspective for learning from hypermedia. Utilizes a Microsoft Dinosaurs teaching-learning episode to pose questions concerning the use of hypermedia for learning of mathematics and science. (Author/MKR)

This paper focuses on three distinctive ways in which educational software can support learning dialogues in primary classrooms. After a re-capitulation of published research on Initiation, "Discussion," Response, Feedback (IDRF) exchanges, where the computer is used to stimulate discussion and then direct it through using feedback, we ask if…

Ohio's Model Industrial Technology Systems (MITS) project was initiated in 1987 to achieve the following: identify good activities in the areas of physical, communication, and bio-related technology; standardize the activities' format; and provide a coding system for their eventual use in a hypermedia system. To date, 220 activities have been…

Intended to aid teachers, administrators, and interested parents by informing them about the state of the educational microcomputer market, this report is meant to be a guide to school districts in the acquisition and maintenance of microcomputers and related instructional materials. Trends in educational computing technology are noted in relation…

The paper demonstrates how school districts can have a low cost software library for instruction by utilizing public domain software. Such software can be used to augment the curriculum and to meet the individual needs of special education students. Specific examples of how one school district has used public domain software in computer-assisted…

Discusses advantages and disadvantages of two types of research methodologies used to study the effect of LOGO in classroom settings: the treatment methodology and computer criticism. Stresses the importance of testable consequences. (PS)

Question and answer column about the CD ROM medium discusses: (1) optical storage devices available; (2) language teaching applications; (3) types of courseware available; (4) costs to hook up a CD ROM drive as a peripheral to an existing system; (5) how to go about developing and mastering a disk; and (6) mastering and replication costs.…

This paper reports on case studies of computer use in an elementary bilingual classroom, a secondary special education classroom, and an introductory adult literacy classroom. Findings, in terms of software, instructor, and student-related problems, are discussed. (Author/MT)

This constructivist teaching experiment investigated the role of whole-number knowledge in fraction learning. Two nine-year-old students worked for one year with a computer program (Copycat) and demonstrated that the development of whole-number knowledge and rational-number knowledge is interdependent. Contains 59 references. (KMC)

Describes the educational philosophy and decisions that shaped development of an electronic reader's edition of James Madison's notes on the debates of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Discusses the role of hypermedia in history instruction. %Illustrates and explains the design of the resource. (PAL)

Discusses hardware and software used to teach scientific method, ecology, evolution, mitosis and meiosis, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, circulatory and respiratory systems, reproduction and drugs, behavior, and genetics. (MKR)

Discusses the results of a survey in which 291 parents of an urban elementary school reported on their computer equipment at home, the type and frequency of their children's educational software and Internet use, and shared their ideas how better connections between computer use at home and school might be created. (Author/LRW)

After 30 years of failing to live up to the promises of its proponents, instructional technology has finally started to play an effective role in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. Asserts that students in courses delivered entirely with technology have begun to outperform students in traditional lecture-based courses, a…

Presents results of experiments with the use of adaptable courseware. Discusses characteristics of educational software and influences on curricular implementation; adaptable educational software; applied adaptable courseware and related adaptation instruments; the research method; and experimental results. Concludes that adaptable courseware will…