Discussed is the nature of and the importance of effective documentation in computer programing. (TG)

Describes a method to teach COBOL which is based on the assumption that trying to teach the idiom of a computer language is similar to trying to teach the idiom of French. Suggests that the basic introduction to programming should be in the Modern Languages department of a school. (SED)

This interview reviews Don Knuth's life and contributions and his views on a variety of mathematical and computer-related topics. He is viewed as the pre-eminent scholar of computer science in the world, and is probably best known for a series of books titled, "The Art of Computer Programing." (MP)

Discussed is the need to improve computer literacy, primarily by the education community, throughout every segment of the population in order to take advantage of technological advancements, ultimately so that worker productivity can be increased. (TG)

Two approaches to computer use instruction are applications (use of specific application software) and problem solving (developing thinking skills oriented toward using computers to solve problems). (SK)

Recent technological developments in interfaces, programing philosophy, and artificial intelligence may invite the participation of women programers, who find a concrete, intuitive, and informal style of programing more congenial than the hierarchical, rule-driven style heretofore pervasive in computer culture. (DM)

Discussion of the relationship between the academic computing community and the practitioner community focuses on the possible separation of software engineering as a distinct discipline from computer science. Relationships between the content of software engineering and the content of computing are examined, and implications for computer science…

This paper discusses five points related to developmental research on children learning to do Logo programming: (1) systematic developmental research documenting what children are learning as they learn to program is necessary; (2) Logo is cognitively complex beyond its early steps and difficult to learn without instructional guidance; (3) the…

Persistent conceptual bugs exist in how novices, from primary school to college age, program and understand programs. These bugs are not specific to a given programming language but appear to be language-independent. The three different classes of bugs are: (1) parallelism, the assumption that different lines in a program can be active at the same…

This essay discusses the human, social, and political problems associated with the introduction of new information technologies and computer education into existing schools and indicates 10 choices which face educational policy-makers. Teacher training, availability of software, necessary hardware, the role of higher education, and national policy…

Suggests computer education activities that can be developed with a single computer, leadership of one staff member, plus one paraprofessional and a core group of interested students. Argues that computer literacy is a societal necessity and a reasonable possibility for even small institutions with limited budgets. (DMM)

Discusses women's central role in the development of the computer and their present day peripheral position, a progression paralleled in the fields of botany, medical care, and obstetrics. Affirms the importance of computer education to women. (DM)

Discusses computational tools for learning programming and describes a system that was developed to help university students acquire the capability to model computational problems independently of a specific programming language. User-system interaction is explained; and system architecture is described, including specification acquisition, a…

Presents a rationale for changing from the current emphasis of precollege computer courses on BASIC programming skills to a focus on teaching applications software skills. Reviews research regarding the quality of computer literacy courses. Discusses parallel cognitive and affective consequences of programming and applications software. Promotes…

Some computer education goals, such as computer-assisted instruction, are very expensive and difficult to meet. Programing, computer literacy, and word processing are less expensive computer education areas, and programs are easier to implement. (PGD)