The current use of microcomputers in the British educational system seems dogged by a mainframe philosophy. As a consequence, the educational potential of microcomputer peripherals has not been carefully considered. Research is urgently needed in this area so that decisions are made on strong educational and technical grounds. (Author/LLS)

Discusses the goals of the Computer Working Party in Great Britain, presenting their assessment of current computer hardware and the market for economics software. Examines "Running the British Economy," a macroeconomic policy simulation that investigates the links between values and policy objectives and encourages questioning of…

Discusses developments in computer education at the elementary secondary level in Tasmania, South Australia, and West Australia. Six references are listed. (LLS)

The availability of relatively cheap microcomputers has led educators in the southeast Asian region to consider introducing computers and computer assisted instruction (CAI) into schools. Advantages, problems, and prospects of introducing CAI into Malaysian schools are discussed. (Author/JN)

A three-phase exploratory study was conducted to make available to British Columbia schools the best in microcomputer hardware, to assist project coordinators and teachers in the integration of microcomputer courseware into the established curriculum, and to evaluate the project. In the first phase, the Apple II Plus with 48K was selected for use,…

"Waterloo MacJANET," a local area network developed by the University of Waterloo for the Apple Macintosh computer, provides an environment appropriate for developing students' computer-related skills, minimizing both the human and the computing resources needed to support such courses. The system also serves as an efficient distributor…

Describes study that was carried out at the University of Calgary to determine how elementary school children conceive of computer-related tasks and how this information might be used to generate animated icons for educational software. Child-computer interaction is discussed, and differences in responses between three age groups are examined. (10…

Many educational institutions have a substantial personal computer (PC) network that can be adapted to provide digital video on demand, as well as PCs that can be used as video on demand clients. To gain insight into the issues involved in using this technology in an educational environment that relies heavily on video, a simple, low cost video on…

Educational applications of computing are reviewed, beginning with a brief introduction to microcomputers and microcomputer characteristics that might be important for school use. An examination of significant models in computer education outside Australia emphasizes projects in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, including the…

Discussion of educational computer simulations focuses on the parallel instruction theory that was developed at the University of Twente to combine the simulation with instructional materials, including those that may be printed. The MacTHESIS design system and philosophy are discussed, and simulation and learning environments based on the…

The basic hardware configuration of a network of up to 17 TRS-80 microcomputer systems (1 central, 16 peripheral) is described as implemented in the psychology department at the University of British Columbia. Such a system can serve several instructional functions (e.g., data generation for lab experiments, simulation of theories or experiments,…

Discussion of how palmtop computers were used in an English secondary school over the course of a year focuses on the perceived effectiveness of such computers in an educational setting and on how teachers' and students' knowledge and use of content-free applications increased over time. (Author/LRW)

Describes the processes involved in leading students from the basics of MaxMix courseware to the final investigation. Discusses a mathematical game, number and graphic tasks included in the package, along with invoking meaningful interaction and integration into classroom mathematics. (RT)

This six-part yearbook, consisting of individual papers, focuses on various aspects of computers and microtechnology in education. Issues and problems are addressed in part 1, including: computer role in thinking, learning, and educating; teachers' unions and the impact of computer-based technologies; evaluation of computer-assisted learning;…

Describes Ontario Ministry of Education efforts to provide microcomputer facilities for schools, facilitate software development, reinforce the ministry's philosophy of education, and stimulate the Canadian computer and software industry. Provides historical perspective and notes recent initiatives taken. (MVL)