Contends that the 'spiral' or 'simple-to-complex order of information presentation' method of teaching business writing is highly effective. Outlines ten steps that teachers may follow in designing instructional formats. (MH)

Describes the Literacy Pyramid (based on the United States Department of Agriculture food pyramid), a classification of eight instructional events, which is intended as a framework for teachers to think about the purpose of various instructional formats and about organizing time for language arts instruction. (SR)

This report on an annual salary survey of trainers (n=2,223) indicates that people at the top received the largest increases and four job categories saw actual pay shrink (especially one-person training departments). Tables depict salaries by region, gender, and the following categories: executives, managers, classroom instructors, instructional…

Discusses arguments for and against learner control of hypertext environments in an instructional context and reviews the research evidence on learner control. Finds that while hypertext gives learners the means to access information flexibly and individually, designers should exercise caution in allowing the learner too much control. (Author/DGM)

The strongly positivist beliefs on which traditional conceptions of instructional design (ID) are based derive from Aristotelian logic and oversimplify the world, reducing human learning and performance to a repertoire of manipulable behaviors. Reviews the cases against deterministic predictability and discusses hermeneutic, fuzzy logic, and chaos…

Formulates rules for adapting the appropriate amount of instruction to learning needs in computerized adaptive instructional systems. The framework is derived from Bayesian decision theory and the procedures are demonstrated for the problem of determining the optimal number of interrogatory examples for concept learning in the Minnesota Adaptive…

Explains formative and summative evaluation and the stages of instructional design. Applies Kirkpatrick's model of training evaluation (evaluating reactions, learning, behavior, and results) to volunteer training. (SK)

Describes the development of a Web site based at Brigham Young University that aims to make the latest practical knowledge associated with online learning easily available to all instructional designers through the development of an online community. Explains the IDEA (Instructional Design Exchange Area) Web site and discusses challenges of…

Presents efforts in exploring new ways for designing innovative pedagogical scenarios to support learning about complex domains that involve the design of interactive learning environments (ILE) to integrate systems supporting alternative ways of interaction with simulations with an emphasis on support for shared interaction to mediate social…

Discusses virtual learning environments, or online learning communities. Highlights include a conceptual framework; theoretical orientation; characteristics of online learning communities; pedagogical issues in course development, including communication, collaboration, interaction, and participation; technological issues; community building;…

An experiential learning model based on information processing is the foundation for the learning combination lock model, which depicts how six factors (or tumblers) may be selected and combined to develop effective learning opportunities. The factors are places and elements, milieu, senses, emotions, forms of intelligence, and ways of learning.…

Ways to redesign training material using truly new multimedia capabilities include integrated formats; user-oriented flexibility; reality-based interactivity; and making connections among text to text, graphics, audio, and video to create more lively instruction. (JOW)

States that document designers presenting procedural instructions can choose several formats: prose, table, logical tree, or flow chart. Suggests that instructions should allow users to reach the outcome without losing time. Discusses two formal methods that help determine which order is most efficient--that based on the selection principle, or…

Considers well-structured problems versus ill-structured problems and presents models for how learners solve them, as well as models for designing instruction to support problem-solving skill development. Information processing theories of learning, an emerging theory of ill-structured problem solving, constructivist learning, and situated…

Presents an authoring model and a system for curriculum development in intelligent tutoring systems. Explains CREAM (Curriculum Representation and Acquisition Model) which allows for the creation and organization of the curriculum according to three models concerning the domain, the pedagogy, and the didactic aspects. (Author/LRW)