A review of the research on techniques for increasing the novice's understanding of computers and computer programming, this paper considers the potential usefulness of five tentative recommendations pertinent to the design of computer literacy curricula: (1) provide the learner with a concrete model of the computer; (2) encourage the learner to actively restate the new technical information in his or her own words; (3) assess the learner's existing intuitions about computer operation and try to build on or modify them; (4) provide the learner with methods for chunking statements into smaller, meaningful parts; and (5) provide the learner with methods for analyzing statements into smaller, meaningful parts. It is concluded that, while results of cognitive research provide qualified support for the first two recommendations, more active research is needed on the other three. A bibliography lists 59 references, and appendices include seven statements used in a BASIC-like instructional booklet, examples of six types of test problems for a BASIC-like language, an example of an elaboration exercise, and data from a study included in the review. (MER)