Critically analyzes recent research studies that examine background variables, cognitive style, and psychological type as influences on performance in college-level computer science courses. Implications for matching curriculum and instructional strategies with student characteristics are presented, recommendations for further research are made,…

Describes programs developed for distance learners, including programs for enrolled students and continuing education for employees. Projects emphasizing television technology are highlighted: Sunrise Semester; Pennsylvania Learning Network (PENNARAMA); NYNETWORK and NYSERNET in New York State; Mid-State Educational Telecommunications Cooperative…

Systematically investigates, defines, and organizes variables related to production of internally designed and implemented computer assisted instruction (CAI) courseware: special needs of users; costs; identification and definition of realistic training needs; CAI definition and design methodology; hardware and software requirements; and general…

Discusses design of a relational database system for monitoring activities related to graduate education at a research university. Current and projected applications are described: preparing informational reports and projections, monitoring student status, assisting graduation services, preparing departmental files, and researching matters related…

Describes study of 122 undergraduate and graduate students that contrasted the effects of two error correction procedures on student achievement when using computer assisted instruction. Analyses of variance were used to determine whether question type or error response affected subsequent responses to factual and higher cognitive questions.…

Discusses the results of an ongoing research study to measure college students' microcomputer literacy before taking a microcomputer course. A brief review of the literature on computer literacy is provided, a comparative analysis of results is given, and a microcomputer literacy index is described that measures literacy and ranks students.…

Describes a study designed to determine if college students' success in writing computer programs is related to level of cognitive development as described by Piaget, verbal ability, and mathematics reasoning. Regression analysis showed that level of cognitive development, when combined with verbal reasoning, is linearly predictive of programming…

Presents a model which integrates design and hardware attributes for both videotape and videodisc technologies and incorporates a wider range of equipment and presentation/testing strategies than taxonomies dealing with hardware only. Model is designed to aid potential designers/users in categorizing and selecting appropriate hardware/software…

Investigates effectiveness of advance organizers for teaching functioning and use of compilers to undergraduate students in computer science courses. Two experimental groups used the advance organizer while two control groups did not. Findings indicate that an explicitly concept-directed organizer is effective in providing a framework for…

Focuses on use of computer-drawn faces to explore visualization in learning and for presenting multivariate data. Prior and new research are reviewed and future applications are discussed. "Autocorrelation-face," a graphics representation created from mathematical analysis of voice input, and its potential as a learning aid for the deaf are…

Designed to evaluate the use of microcomputer-based labware (MBL) in junior high school science, the Computer as Lab Partner Project examined classroom experience of using MBL; system features used and curriculum designed; classroom procedures, processes, and interactions; gains and benefits of MBL use; and potential difficulties in MBL…

Describes Pathfinder, a microcomputer software package designed to improve students' understanding and skills in interpreting graphs of physical phenomena which was tested in high school math classes. Differences in strategies between various ability levels are reported, and student interactions based on observations and interviews are discussed.…

This meta-analysis of 49 comparative studies shows that mastery testing has positive effects on student learning, but the size of effect depends on the stringency of the criterion used and the degree of experimental control. The effects of instructional time, student attitudes, and differences in ability levels are also addressed. (Author/LRW)

Describes the Training Effectiveness Algorithm, a systematic procedure for identifying the cause of reported training problems which was developed for use in the U.S. Navy. A two-step review by subject matter experts is explained, and applications of the algorithm to other organizations and training systems are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Describes an interactive computer-testing and record-keeping system that was implemented for a self-paced anatomy and physiology course. Results of exploratory research are reported that focus on student preference for online testing, test anxiety, attitude, and achievement; and suggestions are given for integrating a computer-testing program into…