Secondary school science teachers have a wide variety of teaching approaches available to them as they support the development of their students' scientific literacy and knowledge of, and about, science. Information technologies, on computers and other devices, offer potentially valuable ways to supplement this "toolkit" of teaching approaches.…

Within-group similarities and between-group differences are used to illustrate the socio-cultural nature of the concept-building process in highly collaborative computer science classrooms. Simultaneously, a social constructivist perspective is used to describe the individual aspects of this development. The study uses written explanations from…

The purpose of this study was to examine how 3-dimensional (3-D) models of the Solar System supported student development of conceptual understandings of various astronomical phenomena that required a change in frame of reference. In the course described in this study, students worked in teams to design and construct 3-D virtual reality computer…

Many students with learning difficulties have trouble solving mathematical word problems. Presents DISCOVER, an intelligent tutoring system that teaches students this task with less failure and frustration. Features a review of literature on word problem instruction, an explanation of intelligent tutoring systems, and a description of DISCOVER.…

Advantages and disadvantages of microcomputer use are noted. Computer managed and assisted instruction are discussed, followed by guidelines for software and microcomputer selection. Uses of CAI in the science curriculum are noted: simulation, modeling, gaming, drills, and tutorials. Finally, a project to disseminate instructional materials in…

Describes the three levels of interactive video and what is known about its instructional effectiveness. Lists 33 videodiscs available for science education. Discusses the uses of interactive video in science teaching. (MVL)

Studies whether students' stated preferences for flowcharts or pseudocodes match their actual behaviors. Provides a review of the literature on flowchart utility. Reports that students preferred flowcharts to pseudocodes. Lists an example of both a flowchart and pseudocode. (MVL)

Reviews findings from change process research connecting current issues in the microcomputer movement. Concludes with a call for descriptive studies emphasizing development of hypotheses and theory building, particularly in further research and development efforts around software and implementation issues. (MP)

Microcomputer simulation games are discussed and are viewed as being of the same nature as traditional imitation and role-playing activities. Some aspects of six commercially available games that could be used in computer assisted instruction (CAI) are reviewed. All examples chosen were among those thought to emphasize positive attitudes. (MP)

The measurement of the affective (qualitative) influences of computer-assisted interactive video instruction on the learner and attendant enhancements for the overall learning experience are highlighted. Formal factors considered are interactivity via buttons and other event-oriented objects, hypertext, semantic memory, and successive…

Included are the description, operating characteristics, uses, and future plans for the Topological Panorama Camera, which is an experimental, robotic photographic device capable of producing visual renderings of the mathematical characteristics of an equation in terms of position changes of an object or in terms of the shape of the space…

This article traces the historical development of fractal geometry from early in the twentieth century and offers an explanation of the mathematics behind the recursion formulas and their representations within computer graphics. Also included are the fundamentals behind programing for fractal graphics in the C Language with appropriate…

This document describes the construction/simulation software called Stella which can be used in the investigation of dynamic causal models. Topics considered are its built-in perspective of system dynamics and capabilities, its potential drawbacks, and its cognitive implications for educational applications. (JJK)

Two microcomputer-based laboratories, the motion detector and the sound detector, are discussed in terms of their affects upon the facilitation of an understanding of graphs and their ability to aid in the development of conceptual understanding from graphical analysis. The author relates experiences in using these labs with high school students…

Reviews emerging applications of microcomputers and hypermedia to assessment. Use consists mainly of computerized test administration of multiple-choice tests drawn from item banks. Significant advantages are possible in several areas including immediate feedback to students, formative evaluation with remediation possibilities, and monitoring…