Contends that, though much attention is given in mathematics to the problem of sensitizing people to the need for identifying elements of a situation and representing them symbolically, little or no effort is devoted to the problem of helping them express the relationships among these elements. (11 references) (MKR)

This report is one of a series from a project entitled Case Studies in Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Mediated Instruction and Distributed Learning. This project examines the benefits and costs of the mediated learning system (MLS) courseware for remedial mathematics developed by Academic Systems Corporation. Comparisons were made at two…

This volume attempts to bring together a collection of reports on the Geometric Supposer, a series of computer software environments which can be a tool for exploring particulars and generalizations in geometry. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "A Personal View of the Supposer: Reflections on Particularities and Generalities in…

This study investigated the effectiveness of LOGO's turtle graphics in both providing a model of systematic thought and in teaching simple geometry to young children in the second grade. The treatment given to 25 second grade students in the experimental group consisted of programming with LOGO's turtle graphics using four Apple II+…

"ARITHMETIC 400" is the first of the next generation of educational programs designed to encourage thinking about arithmetic problems. Presented in video game format, performance is a measure of correctness, speed, accuracy, and fortune as well. Play presents a challenge to individuals at various skill levels. The program, run on an Apple…

This package from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) describes projects undertaken by TVA's Skills Development Program, an effort to help national, state, and local officials improve education. The program includes several futuristic instructional labs that TVA helped to design and install in Morgan County, Tennessee. Instructional labs have…

The performance of two groups of 24 third-grade students practicing division problems was used to assess the effect of microcomputer drill programs on learning. An experimental group that used computer drill programs from the Milliken Math Sequences package was compared with a similar group that learned division using the traditional print drill…

Promotes the use of the microcomputer in mathematics instruction, reviewing approaches to teaching nonlinear equations. Examples of computer diagrams are illustrated and compared to textbook samples. An example of a problem-solving program is included. (ML)

Briefly examines the components of mathematical problem solving instruction, suggests seven guidelines for computer assisted instruction software in mathematical problem solving, and examines three commercially available examples of such software. (MBR)

This study investigated the variation of meaning that may be assigned by students to instructional symbol systems. Toward this end, student interpretations of symbols employed to represent free fall in Boxer, a computational environment designed for innovative instructional activities in math and science, were analyzed. Four classes of…

Suggestions are made for overcoming the problem posed by available mathematics computer software, which is primarily drill and practice and intended for use by one student at a time. Three commercial software programs are reviewed. (JD)

Pretests measuring problem-solving ability were administered to 71 students in a high school mathematics class. One group was given computer-augmented instruction; the other group was given instruction augmented by mathematics laboratory activities. Posttest results for problem-solving ability were mixed, but the group receiving computer-augmented…

Explores families of parabolas that result from the graphs of quadratic functions. Computer software allows students to quickly depict a series of graphs and make conjectures about emerging patterns. Discusses cases in different parameters in the quadratic are varied to produce different effects in which the parabolas. (MDH)

Discusses the use of educational technology for science and math instruction in elementary and secondary schools through conversations with six curriculum specialists and administrators. Highlights include the use of IBM and Macintosh hardware and software; hand-held computers; integrated learning systems; math workstations; computer simulations;…

Provides an overview of five earth and space science CD-ROMs and their potential contribution to learning mathematics and science. The software are "Welcome to the Planets"; "GeoMedia 2, Interactive Multimedia CD-ROM on Global Environmental Change"; "Mars Educational Multimedia"; "Redshift Multimedia Astronomy"; and "Expert Astronomer."…