The Expansion of Analytical Thinking of the Science Student Through Interaction With the TRS-80

The deaf student in a collegiate science course often faces a multitude of facts and figures, and he or she tends to be very selective in processing the information. In addition, the average student has difficulty in comprehending the derivation of a formula in mathematical terms from a simple scientific statement.

To enhance the student's analytical reasoning ability and understanding of mathematical relationships, the Collegiate Science Department has initiated a program to provide an interaction between the student and a microcomputer. The student undertakes an active, rather than passive, role in learning and reasoning. TRS-80 Model III is used. Software provides the student with a variety of exercises, such as drills, multiple choice, true-false, matching, and fill-in-the-blanks, for several sets of statements of increasing difficulty. The instructor can tailor the program to almost any area of science or mathematics. Preliminary results of this student-microcomputer interaction have shown definite improvement in the students' comprehension of mathematical relationships.