Microcomputers suitable for classroom use are available from many manufacturers. Selecting an appropriate system requires that the educator determine instructional needs and identify instructional strategies before considering a system. Comparing the characteristics of small and large computers with the use-frequency of identified strategies permits the educator to determine whether microcomputers are appropriate. Selecting a system first requires the instructor to describe instructional requirements in terms of system capabilities. Specific systems may then be evaluated for suitability of available courseware and software, documentation, cost, service, etc. A final selection may follow which is consistent with identified instructional use.

Abstract Educators are enthusiastic about microcomputers, and rightly so. But those who claim microcomputers are “the answer” have formulated too narrow a question. Besides a shortage of hardware, the instructional use of computers is hampered by shortages of appropriate software, courseware, trained teachers, and supportive administrators.The Association for Computing Machinery (A CM) has created an Elementary and Secondary Schools Subcommittee to identify major problem areas and to lay a foundation for their solution. This subcommittee has identified 25 problem areas and has established task groups to attack the problems. The largest problem is teacher knowledge.

Abstract Microcomputers can help students who normally program in high level languages understand what the computer can do and what its limitations are. A course is described which provides extensive hands-on experience using a microcomputer. Students write, debug and execute several small assembly language programs. Because of the low cost of the microcomputer, increased enrollments in such courses can be accommodated most effectively through the use of multiple copies of a microcomputer instead of a single minicomputer. A network of eleven microcomputers for use by students in an introductory course in machine langauge and assembler programming is described. The sharing of peripherals by the network lowers the total cost considerably. References provide a partial list of textbooks which might be suitable for this course. The course outline is included.

This paper summarizes a two-year study of administrative computer use and impact in school districts. The primary objective of the study was to provide new information on the nature of administrative computer use in elementary and secondary schools. Investigated was the nature of administrative computer use and its impact as it occurs at three levels of management activities: strategic planning, management control, and operational control. In-depth interviews were conducted with 134 employees in eleven Minnesota school districts. The districts chosen for the study were members of the TIES (Total Information for Educational Systems) cooperative which has been in existence since 1968.

Abstract Scanning documents for testing conventionally have used a certain style of identification grid, but there seems to have been no formal research to determine whether the grid is optimal. Three types of identification grids were given to third and sixth grade students in lower, middle, and upper achievement-level schools. Significant differences were found between grades and schools. The conventionally-used grid was found to be optimal.