36The Tar Heel Thursday, July 17, 1986
UNC students given
computer homework
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By ALLISON BELL
Special to the STH
IBM and UNC are working
together to develop educational
software for use by colleges around
the country. Professors generate the
ideas, students help write the pro
grams, and IBM funds the "think
tank," taking a cut of the profits.
In the first phase of the project,
25 professors in the College of Arts
and Sciences and dozens of under
graduates have participated in the
Courseware Development Project.
Harcourt . Brace Jovanovich will
publish the best work coming out of
the program. Soon, when the second
phase begins, more professors, some
in the Business School, will join the
effort.
Despite occasional glitches,
members of the UNC community,
involved with the program say that
it's worthwhile.
Faculty members like the course
ware because it gives them unprece
dented information about the way
their students think.
History Professor John E.
Semonche has asked students to'
participate in computer-based simu
lations of historical crises for 15
years. The simulations teach students
to gather and use information to
solve current problems, Semonche -said
Developing such skills is one
of the aims of a liberal arts education.
Semonche has supervised the
development of three simulation
packages. Each simulation focuses
on a historical crisis. The programs
let students gather information and
discuss ideas with electronically
generated ghosts of historical figures.
After theyVe finished their research,
students plan and justify solutions to
problems presented by the
simulations.
. Once the students have completed
the simulations, printouts list what
background information has been
requested and when it was requested
as well as solutions.
Semonche said the programs are
designed for those who don't know
how to use computers. He said he
requires the simulations in addition
to papers and tests.
Sally Atalla, a senior majoring in
computer science, has helped write
some of the courseware. She got
involved in the Courseware Devel
opment Project as a programmer
after taking SS90, an advanced
programming course. She said that
students need prior programming
experience before getting into the
program.
Students earn college credit during
the school year, and money during
the summer. Atalla said that wages
start at $5 an hour and go up to $8.
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Sophomore Warren Harris studies a History 22 program
Tar Heel Steve Matteson
In the Research Trianele. beeinnine nmWt wnrt tn fJ
programmers usually start at $12 or to catch up with the work unloaded
$13 an hour, she said. on them.
. Student programmers can sche- "It's a great experience for people
dule their own time but must work who want to be programmers some
at least 40 hours a week. Atalla said, day. It's a lot of hard work. YouVe
- j.61ouui,is ui me goi io nave iois oi energy and lots
of patience to sit there for hours
programming."
However, she said she feels that
she's learned a great deal from
working with her supervisors and
See COMPUTER page 40
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