The past few years have seen a proliferation of microcomputers and a reduction in their cost. Many children have microcomputers in their homes and have learned their use in playing games and solving problems. Among these programs are those designed to improve reading skills, many of which are somewhat poorly conceived and prepared, often being…

Computerized spelling programs or "spelling checkers" can be a wonderful tool for writers at any level of competence. However, they should not be used as adjuncts to the teaching of writing unless they meet two boundary conditions, one of size and one of design. The problem with design of the programs is that they allow for the…

Thirteen papers from a symposium on technology in education and communications for the deaf are presented. The following papers are included: "Technology Trends in Special Education" (C. Blaschke); "Microcomputer Usage in American Schools for the Deaf: The State of the Art" (M. Deninger); "Management and Computers"…

This manual for a workshop on the use of telecommunications in the schools begins by presenting a connection decision chart, the session objectives, and the agenda. Information presented for the workshop covers the basic concepts and elements of telecommunications; the specific elements of a telecommunications system; the evaluation and selection…

Summaries are presented of five conference papers on communication, control, and computer access for handicapped individuals. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Accessibility of Graphically Based User Interface Computer Systems for Individuals with Visual Impairments" (Charles Lee and Gregg Vanderheiden); "Data Base vs. Information…

This study focuses on the effectiveness of "Solutions Unlimited," a computer software program developed to teach problem solving to middle level students. Fifty-one fourth, fifth, and sixth graders (21 girls and 30 boys) attending a private school in a small mid-west community were the subjects for this experiment; none had received…

Three aspects to be considered when teaching a one-semester beginning economics statistics course are coverage, mastery, and applications. There is a difference between coverage and mastery. Moreover, mastery is not an end in itself; instructors must consider how statistics courses will influence students' approaches to other subjects and…

This update on computer technology--as it affects learning assistance directors and developmental education personnel--begins by reporting on new developments and changes that have taken place during the past two years in five areas: (1) hardware (microcomputer systems, low cost PC clones, combination Apple/PC machines, lab computer controllers…

Designed to help explain library automation to the librarian or student, this handbook presents a case to be solved, i.e., the creation of a book acquisition system for a special library; the steps to be taken to solve the problem; and a users' manual for the system to be provided to the client. The handbook is divided into three major sections:…

Small community colleges with enrollments between 500 and 2,500 students have traditionally been unable to afford to hire an institutional researcher or to lease sophisticated statistical packages to perform enrollment analyses, though their needs for enrollment projections are the same as those of larger institutions. Fortunately, with a personal…

Delaware County Community College's (DCCC's) course, "Introduction to Microcomputers," was designed to develop the basic level of computer competency necessary to enter the college's microcomputer technology programs. Three manuals were developed for the course: an instructor's manual, a self-paced study guide for students, and a student exercise…

This paper reviews recent developments in the technology relating to microcomputer printing of the Cyrillic alphabet and related forms of Roman alphabet with diacritics used in Slavic and East European languages. The review includes information on the capacities of printers, computers (particularly the display capabilities), and interfaces…

There are three valuable types of computer software needed by the professional researcher--word processing, spreadsheet, and database management. In general, these packages are required for the effective operation of offices; however, researchers may have special needs which can only be met with more specialized software. Recently, word processing…

These two reports contain supporting material intended to accompany the Computer Literacy Acts of 1983 and 1984 (H. R. 3750). This bill was designed to promote the use of computer technologies in elementary and secondary schools by authorizing: (1) grants to local school districts, particularly in poor areas, to purchase computer hardware; (2)…

The use of word processing as an instructional tool is the focus of this monograph. The introductory section provides an overview of word processing and its use in higher education, while the second section explores the use of word processing in writing courses, including word processing for basic writers and learning disabled students, word…