Interactive Computer-Based Education for Satellite Application.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper describes a narrow-band satellite application for facilitating a Computer-Based Education Utility (CBEU). A review of computer uses in education is presented with an emphasis on interactive computer applied to instructional processes. An example of major use of the CBEU focuses on meeting the educational needs of handicapped children, first by inservice teacher education followed by direct instruction to handicapped children via CBEU. Less than 40 percent of the handicapped children who require special education programs in the United States are receiving an adequate education. A plan is presented to provide a flexible "on-the-job" CBEU with a curriculum enabling inservice elementary teachers to learn how to teach mildly handicapped children. The plan described in this paper would make tested curriculum materials available to inservice teachers through Education Centers established by Regional Sponsoring Agencies. It would also create the opportunity to expand the curriculum for practicing teachers into other needed skill areas and eventually provide direct instructional service to handicapped children. A selected bibliography is also provided. (Author/WBC)