This text describes the computer as a necessary classroom tool that not only empowers teachers to teach their students to use computers to solve problems, but also shows teachers how to do the same. The text explains technical matters in language that's understandable to the non-computer savvy, and includes numerous examples drawn from both PC/Windows and Macintosh platforms. The authors use problem-solving models to clarify specific applications, and incorporate national/international standards to create a text that works across a broad educational spectrum. The inspiration for this readable, student-friendly text is the idea that technology should be a means to an end, not the focus of attention.