Instead of encouraging students to offer apples to their teachers, the University is now hoping students will put their Apples to some practical use.

In an effort to bring the University and particularly undergraduates up to date in the rapidly advancing field of computer technology. Harvard officials are considering several ways to integrate personal computers into the curriculum.

While the bulk of computer use in the classroom falls naturally into the computer sciences, several other options are under consideration.

"We're not going to plop them down in every course, but we'll experiment with them in certain sections," says Dean of the Division of Applied Sciences Paul C. Martin '52, adding that a section of calculus and a section of Social Analysis 10 will be computerized.

The computer sciences, however, are at the heart of the drive.

One option under consideration would make use of the new Apple Macintosh personal computer which is currently available to students at out rate prices through the University.

Under the plan, the Macintosh would be used in Computer Science II. Computers, Algorithms, and Programs," taught by McKay Professor of Computer Science Harry R. Lewis '68.

Currently, approximately 60 students in two experimental sections of CS 11 are using IBM personal computers "to determine if the course will work any better and to see if it is easier for the student," Martin says."

Meichun Hsu, an instructor in computer science, says that the use of home computers will give students greater flexibility in their courses, but adds, "there will still have to be some coordination." Programs developed on the mainframe VAX System would somehow "have to make their way" onto the students' personal computers, she says.

She also points out that most of the personal computers currently available to the students through the University such as the Macintosh and the Dec Rainbow 100 are not powerful enough to handle some of the more complex programming assignments.

One plan under consideration, professors says, are "work stations," which are smaller than the mainframe system at the Science Center, but more powerful than the average personal computer. Eventually these smaller centralized units may be installed in locations throughout the University such as in the Houses. Eventually they may also be wired together to allow inter-terminal communications.

But administrators stress that no student will be required to purchase his own computer, regardless of what course or section he enrolls in.

"They may want to buy one if they are in a certain section, but, if not, provisions will be made," Martin says.

Yet, not all computer science students will be logging onto the latest technological phenomena.

"I taught a computer science course last year where all the assignments were done with pencil and paper," says McKay Professor of Computer Science Michael O. Rabin, adding that he does not expect the amount of computer assignments to increase as a result of the advanced technology, instead the work will only be made easier for the students, he says.