Microcomputer Applications In Education And Training

Addressing the role of computers in learning and the means of integrating and applying computer technology into the curriculum, this text emphasizes all the important basic topics related to technology in education. There is coverage of multimedia/hypermedia, designing lesson plans, and how to evaluate and choose software, all supported by numerous forms and charts.

There is a serious risk that the extra burden of adding instruction about microcomputers and software to regular elementary school curricula may turn off both teachers and students to the potential that microcomputers have for improving learning. To counter this risk, microcomputers should be integrated into the regular instructional program of elementary schools. This book is primarily intended for elementary school teachers who already have some experience with microcomputers but no expertise is assumed. Following an introduction to education with computers, many applications and issues are discussed, including: (1) programs for drill and practice; (2) tutorials; (3) games; (4) simulations; (5) computer error diagnosis; (6) instructional software evaluation; (7) programming; (8) problem solving; (9) word processing; (10) computer literacy; and (11) administrative uses of microcomputers. This publication contains 109 references. (CW)

This monograph for teachers addresses two emerging areas in the computing field--providing inservice training in microcomputer use for the general teaching population, and integrating the use of microcomputers into the overall curriculum. A brief discussion of why computers should be used in the classroom introduces five chapters which provide overviews of the following topics: (1) the use of computers in teaching and learning (areas of computer use and using the computer as a teaching/learning tool); (2) types of software available for schools (computer-assisted instruction software, applications software, and databases); (3) integrating computers into the classroom; (4) developing a plan for using computers in the classroom (setting up a classroom computer center and working with only one computer in the classroom); and (5) evaluating educational software (general questions, questions about instructional design, and questions about physical characteristics of the program). A concluding statement argues that the key to continued growth and expansion in the educational computing field lies with classroom teachers and urges them to take an interest in computers and begin to use this important new tool in their classrooms. A 71-item reference list concludes the document. (EW)