Table 1

Construction of Indices of Exemplary Computer Use for Math, Science, English, and Elementary Teachers ^a

Questionnaire Item	Math	Sci.	Eng.	Ele.
One of most important goals of computer use is...
Understanding numerical relationships..................................................	corr^b
Doing scientific investigations...............................................................		corr
Improving writing skills.........................................................................			Def	corr
NOT skills mastery..............................................................................	Def^b	corr	Def
NOT a reward for completing other work................................................	Def	Def	Def	Def
Learning about computers....................................................................		corr
Improving vocabulary and reading comprehension...................................			corr
Frequency of computer use: any of these: "nearly every day," "throughout the school year, but not every day," or "intensively, but only for certain units."	Def	Def	Def	Def
During a week of computer use, typical student uses computers two or more days during week.		corr
Computers are used five or more days for at least two content areas in the subject(s) (from list).	Def	Def	^c	Def
Computer activities are supplementary or enrichment only "sometimes" or "rarely."	Def	Def	Def	Def
Computer activities are general tools (examples given) and do not have specific content like tutorials: "nearly always" or "mostly"	Def	Def	Def	Def
Computer programs' instructional content directly support work done that day in class: "nearly always" or "mostly."	Def	Def	Def	Def
When students do the following, computers are used at least 25% of the time:
To make charts or graphs....................................................................	Def	Def		^c
Graph equations..................................................................................	Def
Solve word problems............................................................................	corr			corr
Make estimates..................................................................................	corr			Def
Solve equations or proofs.....................................................................	corr
Interpret graphs or charts.....................................................................	corr	corr		corr
Computers are used at least 25% of time when students..
Practice abstract logic.........................................................................				Def
Do lab work (science) or science lab work (elem)...................................		corr		Def
Write compositions (English & elem.) or reports (science)......................		corr	Def	corr
Write a story from a "starter"................................................................			Def	^c
Make an outline or notes for a paper.....................................................			Def	^c
Write a second draft, making major editorial changes (50%+)..................			Def	^c
Write a second draft, fixing spelling, grammar(50%+).............................			corr	^c
Work on writing skills..........................................................................			corr	Def
Learn research and study skills............................................................			corr	^c
Study about scientific principles or facts................................................				corr
Computers are not used for reading			corr
Computers are not used for answering questions about a story that had been read			corr
A typical student used this type of program six or more times during the year:
Spreadsheets (math) or database and spreadsheets (science)................	Def	Def
Mathematical graphing programs..........................................................	Def	^c
Tutorials—not just drills but explanations ..............................................	Def	Def
Simulations........................................................................................		Def		Def
Lab interfaces/direct data recording.......................................................		Def
Word processors.................................................................................	corr	corr	Def	Def
Thesaurus programs............................................................................			Def
Programs for making newspapers (publishing prog.) ..............................			Def	corr
Drill and practice programs...................................................................	corr
Programming languages......................................................................	corr
Outline programs.................................................................................			corr
Students used drill-and-practice programs fewer than six times			corr
Teachers demonstrated software to teach concept or idea during "most weeks" or more often	Def	Def	Def	Def

^a Exemplary teachers passed at least a majority of the standards used for their subject. ^b corr= added to index based on correlation. Def = used in pilot index definition. ^c = Not asked. Plausible that it might have been Def or Corr if asked.