Investigations conducted by Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) indicate that introductory computer courses for business students should emphasize the elimination of "computer phobia" through the provision of hands-on experience. In a survey of over 160 area businesses, SFCC found that 53% of the respondents ranked hands-on experience as the most desirable form of instruction; while 37% indicated that a combination of theory and experience was the most desirable form. In response to this employer need and in an effort to increase efficiency in terms of costs and student time, SFCC initiated a competency-based, one-credit Introduction to Microcomputers course. In this course, students utilize the TRS-80 Radio Shack computer in the college's Business/Math Machines Center and complete exercises in flow charting, simple programming, data entry, data correction, and data retrieval. The course is offered on a continuous enrollment basis, and students complete assignments at their own pace, usually within 15 hours. After one year of implementation, the course has proven to be both an effective hands-on complement to computer theory courses and a useful core class for business students who do not need substantial theoretical instruction to effectively use the computer as a tool. This descriptive report concludes with short answers to seven questions about course management and equipment. (JP)