An instructor of a composition and computers writing course (designed for economically and culturally disadvantaged students) at the State University of New York at Buffalo, developed electronic conferences which combine the capabilities of the computer with the conference approach. The instructor reads students' papers while sitting at the…

This paper describes one accreditation team leader's experience with coordinating the entire team accreditation review process on personal computer and offers 14 suggestions for future implementation. The leaders of the accreditation team describes pre-accreditation visit arrangements to facilitate the use of computers. He polled team members on…

A study was conducted to determine whether composition students revise more and write better essays on a word processor than they do with pen, ink, and typewriter. Students wrote four out-of-class papers, with two classes using computers and two using pen, paper, and typewriter. Students had to produce at least two drafts of each paper. Sixty…

A study examined whether word processing amplifies writing performance and whether it restructures the process of writing. Sixteen college students wrote a short essay in a single session on either a word processor or in longhand. The quality of the essays was assessed by trained judges who rated their content and style. Text analysis methods were…

This manual defines basic computer terminology and presents sign language gestures for the terms. The manual uses the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf's Manually Coded English Sign Language System, a compilation of signs derived from Signing Exact English and American Sign Language; it also indicates those instances where fingerspelling is…

To illustrate the capabilities of local area networking (LAN) and integrated software programs, this paper reviews current software programs relevant to writing instruction. It is argued that the technology exists for students sitting at one microcomputer to be able to effectively carry out all phases of the writing process from gathering online…

Some concerns regarding the use of computers in reading instruction are addressed in this report. The first section explores the similarities and differences between reading printed materials and computer display screens (legibility, portability, etc.) and presents some advantages and disadvantages of computers. The next section explains two ways…

The benefits that the microcomputer offers the school district--and the district's public relations office in particular--are significant and should be taken advantage of. Although microcomputers increase the already large amount of information available to administrators, they also enable the user to select and coordinate information efficiently.…

The use of word processing in composition classes provides the student with both the opportunity to experience a significant technology and the ability to improve the mechanics and style of their writing. Word processing software has many benefits over "drill and practice" programs, "dialogue" software, and "whole process" programs, since word…

Twenty-five students, all undergraduates except one, were informally surveyed to determine their attitudes toward the use of word processing in the writing of student papers. Their responses indicated that the use of a word processor was a matter of personal choice with such factors as speed, convenience, storage, and print-outs cited as…

A study is in progress (with posttesting planned for April 1989), which examines whether word processing enhances the particular benefits of sentence-combining practice on the reading comprehension and writing fluency of low-achieving intermediate students. Subjects are 80 low-achieving fourth grade students from a Florida school district,…

The role of computing in enhancing scholarly writing and in building student writing skills is examined, with particular reference to the social scientist's needs at the college level. Word processing, outlining, and hypertext software types are appraised in terms of their impact on writing processes, and, while strengths of each are noted, each…

A study was conducted to replicate partially John Gould's study using more advanced machines and editors, and to test several of Colette Daiute's hypotheses about writing with the computer. Gould's study indicated that expert writers using text editors required 50% more time to compose on text editors than on hard copy, and the extra time did not…

Designed for use in Trident Technical College's Secretarial Science Instructional Lab, this learning module provides self-instructional lessons and self-tests to teach students to operate the IBM Mag Card II Typewriter. Each module focuses on one or more features of the machine, providing learning objectives, illustrations, detailed explanations…

A discussion is provided of the use of computers in writing instruction at the community and junior college level. After providing an account of the introduction of computer technology into the author's personal and professional life, the paper outlines ways in which the computer can be used to teach writing skills. Following an analysis of the…