Most people who are attracted to STEM-related fields are drawn not by a desire to take mathematics tests but to create things. The opportunity to create an algebra drawing gives students a sense of ownership and adventure that taps into the same sort of energy that leads a young person to get lost in reading a good book, building with Legos®,…

Reviews two science computer software packages (on time and seasons and on maps) and three mathematics packages (on solving equations and inequalities, an algebraic coordinate game, and statistics). In addition to descriptions of the contents of each, comments indicate weaknesses and strengths. (MNS)

The increasing availability of the computer in the classroom has created a need for informed and creative instructional software. Two areas of cognitive research in mathematics and science learning have implications to instruction and, consequently, to educational software design. These are research on misconceptions and on differences between…

Discusses criteria that can be used to determine whether it would be effective to integrate computers into classroom instruction. Highlights include improving the quality of instruction; the use of appropriate courseware for difficult subjects, such as algebra and chemistry; drills and practice; improving motivation; and the role and effectiveness…

Contains six abstracts of selected papers from the Fourth Annual Summer Computer Conference held in Eugene, Oregon. Topics reviewed include: teaching science process skills with software (three abstracts); computer use in middle school mathematics; computing and algebra; and artificial intelligence tutorial. (ML)