Argues that modern instructional theory and practice and recent technological advances can be used to build a useful course syllabus. Outlines how "user-friendly" documentation can improve instructional effectiveness and increase student involvement and interest in the course. (MM)

Even though affordable technology makes it possible for teachers to make professional looking computer presentations, overheads, and handouts, they need to understand basic design principles to create effective visuals. This article discusses when visuals should be used and principles of design: layout; organization; and use of space, color, and…

Educational technology should be a tool used for learning but should not become more important than the learning itself. Six criteria for the effective classroom use of technology include determining whether the technology offers an invitation to learn, decentralization of authority, flexibility, access to knowledge, time to explore and use…

The monograph describes Project INTERFACE, a 2-year collaborative effort among the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) of Nassau County (New York), Long Island University, and three local school districts. The project identified the "most effective" implementation strategies for integrating microcomputer instruction into…

Currently the overall philosophy of many basic writing programs is one of inclusion rather than exclusion. First-year students are seen as part of the writing community, instead of continuing the mindset where students were sent off to "take this remedial class and then you'll be ready for English 101." At Arizona State University (ASU)…

This paper provides a balanced set of guidelines for reviewing educational software, and offers a simple and practical procedure that can be used to select software for instructional purposes. The procedure applies equally well to individual "titles" or to large-scale curriculum-based systems. It applies to software delivered on a CD-ROM, through…

Teaching the Internet is hard because the technology keeps changing, the system is complex, the environment is relatively unstable, and it is hard to know how much one needs to know in order to successfully use the Internet. The Internet is a pseudo-complex knowledge domain--the "rules" vary, and it is hard to tell which are the…

This publication is based on work conducted at the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), which serves seven states in the Midwest. Part of the national research and development system administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, the regional educational laboratories provide…

Intended for both beginning and experienced teachers at the secondary and college levels as well as teacher educators and assessment teams, this book reviews strengths and weaknesses of the major types of writing assessment, both for large-scale evaluations and for the individual classroom. The book includes: practical examples, applications, and…

This book offers an updated look at the technologies that are impacting education. Designed for educators who are interested in the instructional applications of technology, the book provides information about current technology standards for students and teachers, as well as research related to the effectiveness of technology in education. It…

Offers guidance on the development and introduction of an academic extranet (an information network that links computers through the World Wide Web rather than through a local area network) for a professional school, outlining the potential options and applications, and a plan for implementation. For descriptive purposes, the model school is a…

Literature on the influence of computers on learning in formal classroom and informal out-of-school contexts is reviewed, and the primary policy considerations in diffusion of computer-based educational technology are examined. The article suggests that the boundaries between formal and informal learning environments can be overcome with…

Uses a case study of a third-grade student with a severe learning disability and an attention deficit disorder to illustrate use of word prediction and speech synthesis software to help students with such tasks as communicating via dialog journals. Guidelines (such as using a relatively small word list) and evidence of the method's effectiveness…

The use of microcomputers in language arts instruction with exceptional students can be an effective tool for both teaching and reinforcing skills, but is not typically employed as an integral part of the overall language arts curriculum. Research studies substantiate the positive impact on student performance when microcomputers are effectively…

Ten ways to design an effective Human-Computer Interface are explained. Highlights include material delivery that relates to user knowledge; appropriate screen presentations; attention value versus learning and recall; the relationship of packaging and message; the effectiveness of visuals and text; the use of color to enhance communication; the…