This review of the literature on computer assisted instruction (CAI) focuses on the use of CAI with grades K-13, and specifically assesses the relative merits of traditional instruction and CAI in promoting student achievement. Also assessed are the applications of CAI in the area of special education. Three types of reviews are used exclusively: (1) subjective, personal opinion; (2) box score reviews, in which the author gives narrative comments about the studies and reports the proportion favorable to CAI; and (3) meta-analysis, which uses objective procedures to locate studies, quantitative methods to describe study features and their outcomes, and statistical methods to summarize overall findings. The document includes an account of the method of locating studies (the ERIC, Psychological Abstracts, Ontario Educational Resources Information System, and Exceptional Child Educational Resources databases), a description of the document review, definitions, and the problems of terminology. Five major reviews are included: Vinsonhaler and Bass (1972); Edwards, et al. (1975); Burns and Bozeman (1981); Kulik, J. et al. (1983); and Kulik, C. C. et al. (1984). The paper concludes with six generalizations based on the five reviews and a discussion of the future of CAI use, which includes some recommendations. A five page bibliography is attached. (JB)