This paper summarizes the state of instructional software being produced by commercial sources in the United States as of late 1984, and reports some of the trends which led up to that state. After a brief background synopsis and description of the procedure used to obtain information, the document discusses such topics as: amount of software…

Describes a study that analyzed the evolution of microcomputer-based instructional software for grades K-12 published from 1981-88. Four companies identified their most popular software and their most technically advanced software. Products in each category were analyzed to develop a chronology of the evolution of instructional software and to…

Describes an Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) study which evaluated 163 elementary and secondary education microcomputer courseware programs for intent, content, methods and approach, and evaluation, to discover whether trends existed across areas and courseware types, and to determine strengths and weaknesses of available…

This report interprets data about student and teacher technology use to portray what is happening in Idaho classrooms and to provide guidance for future funding decisions. It brings together several data sets, including a statewide Idaho School Technology Inventory, standardized tests of student achievement, and a teacher survey that has been used…

Discusses bias in educational computer software by using examples of database programs to illustrate their cultural selection and amplification functions. Forms of knowledge control are examined, and results of a study that analyzed how gender, ethnicity, and the global perspective are portrayed in educational computer software are reported.…

Describes a study that investigated the reliability, factorial validity, and fit to a unidimensional model of the Computer Attitude Scale based on pretests and posttests from 265 teachers who participated in training on classroom applications of computer hardware and software. Discussion includes computer anxiety, efficiency, liking, and…

To determine the number and current use of microcomputers in Alberta's elementary, junior, and senior high schools, a total of 1,509 schools were surveyed. The results, as reported by 1,271 schools (84.2%), showed the total number of microcomputers to be 13,748. To provide more in-depth information, schools were categorized by six instructional…

Reports the results of the U.S. portion of a 1989 survey of elementary and secondary schools conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) that focused on school and teacher practices in using microcomputers. Highlights include hardware, instructional uses, goals for computer use, and software…

Presents results of a survey that was conducted to examine the use of computers in the instructional process of Australian distance education. Highlights include computer-managed learning; computer-marked tests; computer-aided learning; expert systems; and relationships between the type of computer usage, the instructors' expectations, and…

Examines research on computer-based mathematics learning in the context of constructivist learning and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards. The reviewed studies examined the effectiveness of computer software in the three categories of programming, computer-assisted instruction, and mathematical tools. Future research is…

This fifth annual survey of computers and their use in South Carolina schools covers the 1978-88 school years. A questionnaire inventoried computer equipment and software, and dealt with such issues as instructional and administrative uses of computers, and availability of funding. The forms were distributed to all South Carolina public school…

Reports findings of analysis of teacher evaluation forms completed during a statewide project in Indiana to evaluate microcomputer software in public schools. Comparisons between groups of teachers based on factors of either prior experience with software or amount of time invested in evaluation are described, and 31 references are provided. (LRW)

Describes the ECOSET project, developed by the European Community to collect data on the current state of formative and summative evaluation activities regarding courseware used within the classroom in Europe. Evaluation instruments and evaluation techniques are described, and their cultural embeddedness and curricular dependencies are discussed.…

Discusses educational computing in Korea to be used for improving the teaching-learning process, improving science education, and preparing for an information society. Highlights include government, higher education, and private company support; basic objectives and long-term planning for educational computing; software applications; and future…

This study of patterns of microcomputer-based instruction in elementary and secondary schools had three objectives: (1) to describe how teachers who were nominated by their peers as "unusually successful" in their microcomputer-based mathematics and science teaching use technology for instruction; (2) to describe how these uses vary as a…