Students learned to plan and write complex computer programs by writing a program for playing NIM, a game in which two players alternatively remove one, two, or three sticks from an original pile of 21, with the player taking the last one being the winner. The primary teaching purpose was to develop the idea that a final goal--i.e., winning--could…

This project was directed towards exploring issues in undergraduate engineering education and presenting recommendations for future activities in engineering education at two universities. The report includes 14 recommendations pertaining to engineering education in areas such as: practical training, course structure and organization, teaching…

Describes a separate course section dedicated to the needs of social scientists which is embedded within an introductory course in computer science. The special needs of the students and steps taken to satisfy those needs are delineated. (Author/CMV)

Computer professionals are beginning to look toward codes of ethics and legislation to control the use of software. A project has been established at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to develop teaching materials on computer ethics. (BB)

Key elements of a business data processing program at the high school level includes relevant curriculum, the active support and involvement of business, interested students, and qualified faculty. The article discusses these elements and the need for program acceptance and evaluation. (MF)

A situation in which shoppers are waiting in supermarket check-out lines is simulated to determine an optimum number of check-outs using data on the number of shoppers and the serving time. (MN)

A report on continuing education in engineering and mathematics at UCLA and the extent to which computer applications are dominating the scene. (BB)

This paper describes course design aimed at catching up with current business practice. Discussion concerns differences between old and new pedagogies, as well as obstacles in the way of adopting the new approach, particularly in the introductory course. (Author/IRT)

Describes an instructional model for training preservice teachers to teach with computers. The preservice level is seen as the appropriate time for such training because intense, long-duration experiences are required to develop functional competence with the instructional medium. (Author/IRT)

A book designed to enable lay readers to interact with computers using the BASIC language is described. (SD)

Describes studies conducted at a French university to evaluate microcomputer software used in computer assisted instruction. Results of questionnaires completed by a sample of 150 students in beginning computing courses are analyzed to determine how such courseware can be improved, and evaluation versus validation is discussed. (LRW)

Describes the comprehensive, college-wide approach to integrating computers in the curricula at Stevens Institute of Technology (New Jersey). Reviews how the personal computer ownership aspect of the program had an impact on the institution's organizational structure, faculty, and student body. (ML)

Discusses a study which focused on students' actual programming behavior. Descriptive data revealed that the high school students spent little time in planning their programs or writing their code. Their debugging behavior was characterized as a trial and error strategy. (ML)

Discusses the nature and current state of knowledge-based systems and expert systems. Describes an expert system from the viewpoints of a computer programmer and an applications expert. Addresses concerns related to materials selection and forecasts future developments in the teaching of materials engineering. (ML)

This study investigated whether computer science educational background makes secondary students more adept at using word processing capabilities, and compared computer science and non-computer science students' writing improvement with word processing use. Computer science students used more sophisticated program features but student writing did…