Describes microcomputer-based hardware, software, and adaptive devices that are available to help disabled students based on experiences in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Highlights include speech synthesizers; devices for computer monitors that bypass the need to use a keyboard; switches sensitive to light, movement, and air; and word…

Until recently, professionals in the humanities have had access only to mainframe computer technology. The advent of microcomputers offers a range of new options. The experiences of one individual indicate that with personal computer technology and simple programming, and occasionally the help of a mainframe, textual, visual, and auditory…

"Cued Typing" is a computerized communication message preparation program, written for Apple II Plus, using frequency-based prediction algorithms and menu selection to reduce word cost while maintaining vocabulary flexibility. "Cued Typing" was more efficient than letter-by-letter typing, but word cost was still quite high, and…

Describes the hardware components of a CD-ROM workstation and offers guidelines for selection decisions. Components discussed include CD-ROM drives; keyboards; monitors, including color and monochrome; graphics; microcomputers, including memory requirements; disk storage, including hard disks and floppy disks; and printers. Turnkey systems are…

This report summarizes the curriculum development and research effort that took place at the Cupertino Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) site from January through June 1987. Based on the premise that computers make revising and editing much easier, the four major objectives emphasized by the computer-intensive writing program are fluency,…

Keyboarding was taught to a group of 26 fourth- and fifth-grade students in a self-contained classroom by an elementary classroom teacher using an Apple IIe microcomputer and two software programs: "Gregg Personal Keyboarding" and "Typing Tutor II." Intervention spanned 52 class days, including pre-, mid-, and posttest days,…

This paper reports on a research and development program which developed a more effective interface between personal computer (PC) users with disabilities and computer systems. The program emulates a PC keyboard, enabling disabled PC users to access standard software via a binary (switch) control element. (Author/DB)

Because of the crucial nature of the technical literacy problem and the necessity for employees to be able to understand and apply information contained in technical manuals, a technical literacy test was developed in order to identify the level of a person's familiarity with or likely aptitude for work using a computer. The information yielded by…

This paper explores the issue of how, when, and where to teach keyboarding at the elementary school level through a review of the keyboarding literature and descriptions of three studies conducted with fifth grade students in the laboratory school at the University of Wyoming. The literature review briefly summarizes findings on the following…

Discusses new possibilities that computers and laser printers offer instructional technologists. Includes a brief history of printed communications, a description of new technological advances referred to as "desktop publishing," and suggests the application of this technology to instructional tasks. (TW)

Reports on a study of the ability of preschoolers and first, second, and third graders to use three computer input devices: a joystick, a mouse, and a keyboard. For all grade levels, the mouse offered the greatest ease of use in manipulating icons, followed by the joystick and the keyboard. No effect for gender was found. (Contains 30 references.)…

A third grade class served as subjects of this study on the use of paired keyboards attached to a single microcomputer as a means to facilitate Internet exploration. A collaborative environment resulted, where students could benefit from the scaffolding provided by computer and Internet resources. (AEF)

This curriculum guide is one of five developed as part of the Illinois Plan for Business, Marketing, and Management Education for use in 9th and 10th grades. The curriculum guide includes teacher and student activities that can be implemented in many ways. Information on how to integrate the activity objectives of the Illinois Plan into the State…

Severely physically disabled children may need special communication techniques or aids to help them in conversation/interaction and writing. An individual with speech problems may need an augmentative communication system, and selection of the right system, whether non-electronic or electronic, can be a complex process. To assist in the task of…

A microcomputer can be used in many different ways to assist people with disabilities. A computer's usefulness for a given individual is determined by the computer applications that are needed and by the specific problems the disability presents. In general, there are currently three ways that people with disabilities can use a microcomputer: (1)…