ComputerTowns are local, volunteer organizations providing learning opportunities for interested individuals and fostering computer literacy. ComputerTown Menlo Park is currently being developed (with NSF funding) into a demonstration computer literacy project to disseminate the model to libraries and other institutions. Program…

Game-playing has become a more generalized phenomenon than ever, entering into public recreation, school programs, and commercial promotional efforts. Games require competitive interaction between two or more individuals, making game-playing useful in clinical therapy and opening games to technological innovation. The latest such innovation is the…

A special National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) service is contributing to national productivity by providing industry with reusable, low-cost, government-developed computer programs. Located at the University of Georgia, NASA's Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) has developed programs for equipment…

A computer named Sophia at Smith College does far more than routine data processing. Her activities range from matching roommates to classifying plants. (Author/MLF)

Describes a computer-assisted scheduling algorithm for college courses and faculty. The method considers such issues as availability of lecturers, preferred times for courses, and time conflicts. Samples of the schedules are included. (JJD)

To help female elementary students overcome computer anxiety (similar to math anxiety) and thereby promote equal use of computers by both sexes, principals should enhance girls' self-concepts concerning computers, provide computer literacy training, and expand girls' career goals. (Author/RW)

Discusses a prototype computer program designed to calculate readability levels and explains why such a program is needed. Calls for support from others who can assist in the program's development. (FL)

Describes the use of EXPER SIM (experimental simulation) as an instructional tool in speech communication research. Several sample models are offered along with a discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of using the computer for social science research. (JMF)

Describes a computerized attendance accounting system that has reduced teacher concern with clerical tasks, brought attendance problems to the attention of parents and counselors sooner than before, and focused conferences and remediation efforts on objective computer data. (Author/IRT)

Describes Cyclops, an advanced electronic audiovisual system which uses microprocessor technology to convert a video signal into an audio signal for transmission by telephone, radio, or stereo-audio cassettes. Students need a 'black-box' to decode the signal for display on a standard television screen. Problems encountered in implementing this…

A list of rules and sample items for a computer fair contest for grades 3 to 12 is given. (MK)

"Matesim" was designed to help users identify areas of conflict and fulfillment with potential mates and aid rational clarification of values. The computer simulates marriage, evaluates the consequences in terms of user's values, and provides analysis of user's values compared with those of counselor and peer group. (Author/BEF)

A survey of students, parents, and teachers showed positive response to a new computerized grade reporting system in Madison, Wisconsin. (LS)

Reports on the U.S. State Department's experiment with a new concept in management information systems for personnel resources--the Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Suggests that the HRIS approach may meet public executives' demands for accurate, rapid, responsive, and flexible information systems. (Author/JG)

Reviews surveys of computer usage by U.S. universities in the past and estimates trends in a survey now underway. (BD)