These are timely books; every week sees more educational software, yet little is available to tell teachers or parents how to use or judge it.

Children And Computers In The Classroom begins with an introduction to computing. The second chapter tackles the role of the computer in the classroom, concluding that the micro is fundamentally different from any other teaching aid. Mr. Mullan believes it has the potential for contributing to an enhanced creative environment, particularly in maths and science.

The fact that few schools have enough micros to realise that potential is considered and organisational solutions are suggested.

Chapter three looks at software. Mr. Mullan divides educational programs into three areas: courses of study, drill and simulation. Drill programs are described briefly, then discussed from a theoretical standpoint. Curiously, no examples of contemporary British programs are given.

The chapter called the Teacher as Programmer will only be of value to those new to programming - it details the design of a simple educational program. Other chapters include the Child as Programmer, a Possible Methodology (Turtles and Logo) and the Computer and the Curriculum.

I found the book a fair introduction to the subject, but the roundabout style and lack of contemporary reference made me look to see if this was a 1970s reprint.

Databases in the Classroom begins by justifying itself with a history of record-keeping. It goes on to describe data management in terms of input, storage, retrieval, and so on. The third chapter, Computer Skills (among others) would be good introductory material for Computer Studies at 'O' or CSE level. Chapter five gives useful practical applications of database usage in the classroom.

The next three chapters detail tape and disk storage and include technical explanations of disk accessing. The book gives detailed listings of a database for the BBC Micro with annotation for those with some programming knowledge.

Both these books show there is exciting work going on in schools. However, they are self-indulgent in places, rather formally presented and on the thin side, giving an overall impression of a lack of depth.

Bryan Skinner