An extensive computer based education system (CBES) built around the IBM Coursewriter III program product at Ohio State University is described. In this system, numerous extensions have been added to the Coursewriter III language to provide capabilities needed to implement sophisticated instructional strategies. CBES design goals include lower CPU usage per student interaction, fewer disk accessions per student interaction, all existing course materials to operate without alteration, system modifications to be transparent at the student level, standard Coursewriter III authoring capabilities to be maintained, and provision for enhancements to be made where practical. Other sections of the paper are concerned with system operation logic, distribution of processing, redundant processing, reducation of disk activity, locating and retrieving information, implementation, and enhancements. (VT)