Designed to aid teachers, school administrators, and parents in selecting educational software for grades K-12, this guide lists 193 programs chosen from over 6,500 evaluations conducted by 30 evaluation services in the United States and Canada. Following the introduction, which provides a detailed explanation of how the programs were selected,…

This document consists of 24 microcomputer software package evaluations prepared by the MicroSIFT (Microcomputer Software and Information for Teachers) Clearinghouse at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Each software review lists source, cost, ability level, subject, topic, medium of transfer, required hardware, required software,…

The background and results of an effort to use dBASE II, a microcomputer database management package, to establish, maintain, and update an item bank useful in a complex test development process are presented. The paper explores some of the perspectives and considerations in designing such a database which make the test development process easier,…

Designed to aid teachers, school administrators, and parents in selecting educational software for grades K-12, this guide lists 226 programs chosen form 8,000 evaluations conducted by 32 evaluation services in the United States and Canada. Following the introduction, which provides a detailed explanation of how the programs were selected, the…

This digest describes how to use a microcomputer as a terminal to access ERIC online. Hardware and software requirements are explained, configuring the software is described, and basic requirements for specific microcomputers are listed. One diagram is included. (EW)

Designed to assist in identifying printed material, support groups, and instructional aids related to the Logo programming language, this bibliography is divided into nine sections: (1) books about Logo, and books with significant Logo references or helpful general information; (2) periodicals dedicated to Logo and periodicals with regular Logo…

Summary of the findings of a critical overview of more than 200 microcomputer programs using PC-DOS/MS-DOS for online information management discusses software for telecommunications, conversion/reformatting, storage and retrieval of text information, and word processing. (6 references) (MES)

Describes the experiences of the AT&T Technical Library in installing a local area network (LAN) and bulletin board using the UNIX operating system. Reasons why a LAN was needed, how the system works, and hardware and software used are discussed. (1 reference) (MES)

Describes a method of assigning letter grades based on five preliminary grading routines programed in a microcomputer spreadsheet program, in which the teacher chooses the final grade distribution either from the suggested routines or by making an appropriate adjustment to them. (MBR)

To fill a void in evaluations of administrative software, users and distributors of full-capacity student and financial management systems were surveyed. This summary of findings: (1) discusses favorite program features; (2) pinpoints limitations; (3) identifies development trends; and (4) offers predictions about the administrative software of…

A nonparametric Mokken scale analysis and program is described. Three procedures of scaling (a search procedure, evaluation of the whole set of items as a scale, and extension of an existing scale) provided a coefficient of scalability for all the items together that satisfy the criteria of the Mokken model. (Author/LMO)

The top six educational software titles were picked: Bank Street School Filer, Biofeedback Microlab, Geometric Presupposer: Points and Lines and Geometric Supposer: Quadrilaterals, Logowriter, Microzine, and Touch 'N Write: Palmer Manuscript Penmanship. Twenty-three additional programs are also presented. Each has a descriptive comment. (MNS)

Presents current licensing practices of software for microcomputers and demonstrates inadequacies of these practices to situations where installations make use of multiple microcomputers using realistic scenarios. Suggestions for possible revisions to licensing agreements that might alleviate these inadequacies are provided. (MBR)

Discusses microcomputer applications in social work settings, including designing client records and process notes, establishing filing and recordkeeping systems, and performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of data stored on diskettes. Considers the applications of available, easy-to-use and reliable software packages. (Author/JAC)

Networks confined to one classroom or several classrooms in one building are called local networks. The nature and uses of these networks, software needed to run a network, software problems, and potential problems are discussed. Information on commercially available networks (including source, cost, hardware/software provided, features, and…