PREFACE...vii

PROLOG...ix

1 • INTRODUCTION...1

The school milieu...3
What you need to know...5
Who should read this book?...7
Organization of the book...8
Exercises...9

2 • HOW CAN COMPUTERS HELP?...11

Accounting...11
Attendance...14
Grading...15
Scheduling...16
Test scoring...17
Student information systems...20
Other applications...22
Summary...25
Exercises...26

3 • TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS...29

Word processing and desktop publishing...29
Database management...32
Spreadsheets...34
Graphics and desktop publications...36
Telecommunications...37
Integrated software...38
Summary...39
Exercises...40

4 • COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM...43

Application programs...43
Instructional software...45
Programming languages...49
Multimedia...50
Teacher utilities and Student Management Programs...51
Summary...52
Exercises...53

5 • EVALUATING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ALTERNATIVES...55

Hardware alternatives...55
Software alternatives...61
Integrated Learning Systems...67
Conclusions...68
Exercises...69

6 • SUCCESSFUL COMPUTER IMPLEMENTATION...71

Facilities...71
Staffing...73
Training...75
Security...78
Maintenance...80
Summary...81
Exercises...82

7 • PLANNING FOR COMPUTERS...85

Identifying goals and objectives...86
Acquiring hardware/software...87
Implementation scheduling...89
Evaluation...93
Establishing policies and procedures...95
Summary...96
Exercises...97

8 • FINANCING COMPUTERS...99

Cost/Benefits...99
Budgeting...102
Funding sources...104
Expenses...106
Summary...107
Exercises...108

9 • NEW DIRECTIONS...111

Networking...111
Laptop computers...111
Hypertext...116
Artificial intelligence...116
Distance learning...119
Community outreach...120
Summary...123
Exercises...123

10 • WELCOME TO P.S.1991...127

Exercises...142

GLOSSARY...143

REFERENCES...147

APPENDIX: FURTHER RESOURCES...151

AUTHOR INDEX...157

SUBJECT INDEX...159