The chief advantage of the use of a computer in a basic reading and writing class is that it helps the instructor do more with greater ease and comfort in less time. Initial problems associated with the use of a mainframe computer for instruction were: few programs which met the needs of community college students; lack of knowledge on how to train the students; difficulties in measuring gains; user resistance; lack of a strategy for its use; and possible faculty objections to students using the computer terminals. Most of these problems have not been solved; however, uses for the computer which have been developed include: (1) provision of diagnostic data through cloze tests, multiple-choice spelling and writing tests, and readability assessments of student writing samples; (2) electronic gradebooks (in the planning phase); (3) student-teacher communication by electronic mail; (4) drill and practice; (5) sharing of essays among classmates; (6) reduction of paperwork; (7) distribution of assignments by electronic mail; (8) individualization of instruction by sending different assignments to different students; (9) computerized availability of instructor handouts; and (10) weekly evaluation of student progress. (DC)