Serious games have a great potential for training and educating people in novel and engaging ways. However, little empirical research has been done on the effectiveness of serious games, and although early findings do point to a moderately positive direction, even less is known about why some games succeed in effectively educating while others do…

Documents the process used to construct the definition of the field of instructional technology. A chronology of the development and the key factors that influenced the construction process are described. Issues confronted, including acceptable definition characteristics and the scope and nature of the domains, are covered. (13 references) (KRN)

Centrally concerned with design, educational technology involves making the best possible decisions for action given a particular set of circumstances, with a body of knowledge or instructional theory for guidance. More work is needed to aid educational technologists in the three tasks of building instructional theory, developing techniques for…

The purpose of this guide is to present the essential technical considerations for implementing the North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan (NCITP). It addresses three main areas fundamental to the development and execution of long-range technology plans: collaboration, connectivity, and hardware/software configurations. The first section…

This paper describes the work in progress of a research team at LICEF Research Center, Tele-universite (Canada) in developing an object-oriented model of a computer-enriched high school, with the goal of bringing about a new vision of education through the use of technology. The model facilitates decision-making by offering a global and integrated…

This paper addresses the lack of total honesty in communicating about technology in schools. A recent series of meetings in which state delegations focused on technology and discussed ways to collect and use information for decision making is described, in order to set the context for the paper. The discussion then focuses on the following…

This decision tool presents a progression of data collection and decision-making strategies that can increase the effectiveness of distance-based or distributed learning instruction. A narrative and flow chart cover the following steps: (1) basic assumptions, including purpose of instruction, market scan, and financial resources; (2) needs…

This document is designed for use as a resource and reference guide for Air Force instructional managers who are considering the adoption or expansion of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) at some future time, and also as a decision aid for an instructional manager currently involved in the CAI decision process. The contents are intended to be…

A cybernetic unit in driver education was developed to help grade 10 students develop the skills needed to acquire and process driver education information and prepare for the driving phase of driver education in grade 11. Students used a simulator to engage in a series of scenarios designed to promote development of social, behavioral, and mental…