Describes study that was conducted at Bar-Ilan University (Israel) to examine the influence of previous experience on the computer activity of first-year university students. The average computer activity for high-experience and low-experience groups is analyzed, and implications for beginning computer courses are discussed. (10 references) (LRW)

Discussion of the use of computers in education focuses on a graphics-based system for teaching the Pascal programing language for problem solving. Topics discussed include user interface; notification based systems; communication processes; object oriented programing; workstations; graphics architecture; and flowcharts. (18 references) (LRW)

Computer anxiety was studied in undergraduates without previous computer experience enrolled in an introductory course (N=111). About 33 percent had seriously high levels of computer anxiety. It may be advantageous to segregate initially anxious students into separate classes. (SLD)

Undergraduates in a computer literacy class were pretested on analogical reasoning skills. One section then received LOGO programing instruction, and the other section received nonprograming instruction on computer uses in education. Posttest results indicated that analogical reasoning skills development is a consequence of LOGO programing and…

The Advanced Computing/Management Training Program at Jordan Technical Center (Sandy, Utah) simulates an automated office to teach five sets of skills: computer architecture and operating systems, word processing, data processing, communications skills, and management principles. (SK)

Discussion of collaborative learning focuses on the MUCH (Many Using and Creating Hypermedia) System, developed at the University of Liverpool (England) for designing and implementing collaborative learning systems. Examples of applications of the MUCH System for nursing education and for computer science education are described, including the use…

Presents an overview of the guidelines adopted by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for computer science education programs. Describes the review process utilized in developing the guidelines, changes made in the program resulting from the reviews, and the need for implementation models that meet the standards.…

Describes an intelligent tutor incorporating a program using artificial-intelligence planning methods to generate realistic audit files reporting actions of simulated users and intruders of a UNIX system, and a program simulating the system afterwards that asks students to inspect the audit and fix problems. Experiments show that students using…

Describes Hyper Apuntes, an interactive learning environment developed at the University Carlos III of Madrid which teaches students the basic concepts of computer programming. Discusses results of an evaluation of the courseware that assessed its usability and utility and collected suggestions for improving the system. (Author/LRW)

Describes a study of undergraduates at Bolton Institute (England) that investigated biological sex, psychological masculinity and femininity, computer comfort, computer engagement, and computer over-use. Discusses the role of applications in determining sex differences, and explains findings that imply that some reduction of sex asymmetries in…

This action research study looks at a sample of 30 juvenile computer books from the past 30 years and analyzes the illustrations for evidence of gender and racial bias as well as career depiction. Examines the gender of authors and illustrators and discusses library media implications. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the three-step implementation of an instructional technology tool and associated pedagogy to support teaching and learning computer programming concepts. The Flowchart Interpreter (FLINT) was proven through experiments to support novice programmers better than the traditional textbook approach. (EV)

Describes a study that examined differences in computer-related attitudes and future intentions between females in an all-female class and males and females in mixed-gender classes. Results of this study conducted in grade 11 computer science courses indicate that an all-female environment may enhance the learning experiences of female students.…

Discusses an exploration with the use of interactive learning on the Web in an Introduction to C Programming Course taught at Cleveland State University, and compares the results with the same course taught during a previous semester using no interactive Web instruction. (Author/AEF)

Presents findings from a commission that looked into gender technology and teacher education. Girls use technology as much as boys, but they have less interest in the machine for the machine's sake and more interest in using computers as tools for current interests. Both teachers and girls have similar concerns about computer technology in the…