Describes several commercially-available computer programs which allow users to make copies of "protected" software. Current costs, program features, and ordering information are provided for these "encryption" programs. Also describes a monthly journal (The HARDCORE Computist) which focuses on unlocking copy-protected…

Matrix differencing of data vectors is introduced as a method for computing test variance and is compared to traditional analysis of variance. Applications for computer assisted instruction, provided by supplemental computer software, are also described. (Author/GDC)

Based on a study of eight LD students learning to use word processing, the paper makes recommendations for evaluating word processing software and designing instruction that is sensitive to students' difficulties. (Author/CL)

Reviews what information and software sciences have thus far accomplished in search for empirical regularities and laws and examines what theories have been developed to explain and account for regularities and laws. Specific laws and theories of information highlighted are those of Zipf, Bradford, Lotka, Mandelbrot, and Simon. (Forty references)…

Sutphin and Richardson discuss finding software in other disciplines and adapting it for vocational agriculture. Makin, Chase, and Wonacott describe a National Center for Research in Vocational Education project to develop a procedural guide for microcomputer courseware evaluation. (SK)

This bibliography lists 27 microcomputer dictionaries published from 1977 to present. Arranged alphabetically by title, each citation includes the publisher, publication date, number of pages, International Standard Book Number, price information, and an evaluative annotation. A set of seven dictionaries, each focusing on a different software…

Discussion of software license agreements implies that they actually contribute to software piracy because of their stringency and indicates that competition in the software publishing field will eventually eliminate the piracy problem. (MBR)

Directed to occupational therapists, the article focuses on the applications of microcomputers to services for developmentally disabled persons. Noted are computer devices (input, output, software, and firmware); computer programs (basic and sophisticated instruction, graphics); and LOGO, a computer language.

Three methods employed to price and sell computer equipment are discussed: computer pricing, hardware pricing, system pricing (system includes complete computer and support hardware system and relatively complete software package). Advantages of system pricing are detailed, the author's system is described, and 10 systems currently available are…

This presentation will demonstrate the uses of SAM 2003 from Course Technology as a skills assessment and training software that is used via the Internet. Historically, testing in computer education has taken the form of pencil and paper or standardized testing. The actual computer skills of the student have not been properly assessed. With SAM,…

Automation of the survey process has proved successful in many industries, yet it is still underused in educational research. This is largely due to the facts (1) that number crunching is usually carried out using software that was developed before information technology existed, and (2) that the educational research is to a great extent trapped…

A simulation study compared three methods of estimating parameters within structural equation models (SEM) with polytomous variables. These methods appear in three SEM computer software packages: (1) LISREL (Joreskog and Sorbom, 1996) with PRELIS (Joreskog and Sorbom); (2) EQS (Bentler, 1995); and (3) the new Mplus (Muthen and Muthen, 1998). The…

Demonstrates that instruction software is a public good, in the economic sense, and that the instruction programs now in use make up a stock which will be fully utilized only if certain public overhead is incurred. The implications of this analysis are examined. (Author/CMV)

Discusses computer viruses and explains how to detect them; discusses virus protection and the need to update antivirus software; and offers 10 safe computing tips, including scanning floppy disks and commercial software, how to safely download files from the Internet, avoiding pirated software copies, and backing up files. (LRW)

Computer skills were identified and grouped as follows: operating systems, graphical user interface, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Responses from 47 of 420 employers rated proficiency in all of these groups essential. Database skills were particularly highly rated. (SK)