This final report describes activities of a federally funded project which developed an educational computer-assisted instructional program for persons with severe disabilities. A preliminary review of the literature identified specific inadequacies of most software for this population, such as: too few examples of a task or concept thus limiting…

This one-hour documentary on videotape reveals how computer technology and interactive media rely on the languages of the arts--images, sounds, colors, and movements--to engage children in new ways of learning about the arts and other subjects. Students are shown using educational software that encourages development of knowledge and skills in…

The role of information technology (IT) is changing, and is becoming more important for the overall success of colleges today. The structure of IT has not changed much through the years, but a greater amount of institutions exist where multiple areas of technology are being merged back into a single IT organization. The model of IT explored in…

The term "multimedia" is defined as the integration of text, audio sound, static graphic images, animations, and full motion video. Multimedia encompasses a number of components and levels of sophistication, and has come to denote the cutting edge of a technology that continues to change with unprecedented speed. Gaining a proficiency in…

This paper presents preliminary, but statistically significant, findings from a study that compares two methods of measuring instructional effectiveness: global evaluation by experts and systematic observation using the SCRIBE Ob.2 software developed at the University of Texas at Austin. Hierarchical instruction of a performance skill…

This textbook is designed for a one-semester introductory course in which the goal is to give students a foundation in the basics of information technology (IT). It focuses on how the technology works, issues relating to its use and development, how it can lend personal and business advantages, and how it is creating a globally networked society.…

A study was undertaken to explore whether students using an advance organizer-metacognitive learning strategy would be less anxious, more self-directing, more efficient, and more self-confident when learning unknown computer applications software than students using traditional computer software learning strategies. The first experiment was…

A study investigated how different combinations of background color, text brightness and text color in Chinese CAI (computer assisted instruction) software programs may influence the affection, perception, and cognition of elementary school students in Taiwan. A sample size of 332 was drawn from the sixth-grade students of 2 elementary schools.…

This introduction to the Internet explains what it is, how to use it, and how it can be useful to those with an interest in competency-based education. The Internet is a network of over 14,000 networks as of August 1993, with 1,000 being added per month, and at least 1 million machines and 20 million people connected to it. There are several…

This paper examines emerging information technologies and their implications for school library media centers. Because of the fluctuating situation regarding new innovations, only emerging technologies that specialists believe will occur within the next 5 to 10 years are discussed. For each technology mentioned, a brief description is given…

Although sophisticated multimedia authoring applications are now available to amateur programmers, the use of audio in of these programs has been inadequate. Due to the lack of research in the use of audio in instruction, there are few resources to assist the multimedia producer in using sound effectively and efficiently. This paper addresses the…

This book offers guidelines for action research, a process in which teachers experiment with various strategies at the classroom level. Action research is the process of systematically evaluating the consequences of educational decisions and adjusting practices to maximize effectiveness. Essentially the examination of one's own practice, it…

The knowledge development concept (KDC) described in this report is designed to prepare the public to take full advantage of the National Information Infrastructure. Implementation of KDC will redirect the efforts of the education industry from stressing information technology as tools and skills to the use of information technology for educating…

This monograph presents examples of typical public school situations involving copyright issues; the advice provided is based on a conservative interpretation of the copyright law. The following topics are discussed: history and liability; fair use; print materials; audiovisual works; computer software; interlibrary loan, photocopying, facsimile,…

This paper provides an overview of a University of California (UC) study of the issues involved in creating an online directory of electronic information resources available to the university community. For the purposes of the study, electronic information resources include bibliographic and other databases available at or through UC libraries and…