Provides an overview of issues relating to practice and research regarding collaborative online learning in distance education. Topics include traditional problems of distance education; instructional design issues, including course preparation, social climate and sense of community, instructor's role, and the effective use of technology; and…

Discussion of learning materials and the acquisition of skills in the Dutch Open University focuses on the instructional design of an advanced course on expert systems that includes a practical element for acquiring required skills via CD-audio. Situated learning is also discussed. (LRW)

Focuses on decisionmaking about delivery media, and introduces CADDI's Performance-based, Accelerated, Customer-Stakeholder-driven Training & Development(SM) (PACT) Processes for training and development (T&D). Describes the media decisions that correspond with the design three levels of PACT: Curriculum Architecture Design, Modular Curriculum…

Considers the learning theories that support work-based learning and how these have been used to develop an MA in Management. The mode of the study for this Masters is wholly by work-based learning. The course was offered for the first time in September 1998 and to date 50 students have enrolled. This article outlines the course and considers some…

Discusses the plan for building an incremental, multi-year information literacy program at the University of Rhode Island. Reviews the current library instruction program and reasons for and methods of change. Discusses the development of credit courses in information literacy, creation of information literacy modules for specific disciplines, and…

A study of 335 undergraduates enrolled in introductory psychology courses at two universities found that learner initial attitudes were predictors of academic achievement and that prior academic achievement was the single predictor variable in a logistic regression analysis of whether students earned satisfactory grades. These results support the…

Discusses how to design effective learning environments for continuing education that maximize learning, transfer of training, and motivation. Focuses on the process of changing traditional continuing education from lecture-based, on-site instruction to Web-based instruction and considers challenges of distance education. (Author/LRW)

Proposes an integrated approach for information technology in an educational context. Suggests a framework for the design of computer-assisted learning activities called e-ducation that incorporates electronic, engaged, and empowered learning, and describes the implementation of the framework at a Swedish university. (Contains 51 references.)…

Presents a case study that describes the design and implementation of a tutor-training program for prospective online tutors. Identifies key findings that will inform future staff development and training programs for prospective online tutors. Analyzes the effectiveness of individual components of the training program to which the tutors were…

Discusses the history and theory of computer-based education (CBE) and reviews five meta-analyses that investigated the effectiveness of computer-based applications on individuals by measuring student achievement on a final exam for both CBE and traditional teaching. Concludes that CBE should supplement traditional instruction, not replace it.…

Proposes a 10-criteria classification framework, derived from current literature, to capture the characteristics of the design, leadership, and implementation of school improvement programs in the United Kingdom. Uses the classification frame to analyze the design model adopted by the secondary school in the case study. Draws conclusions about the…

Uses Frank Lloyd Wright's (1867-1959) organic architecture as a metaphor to define the relationship between a part and a whole, whether the focus is on a building and its surroundings or information delivered via hypertext. Reviews effective strategies for designing text information via hypertext and incorporates three levels of information…

Describes a fictional account of the work of a submarine sonar operator ("The Hunt for Red October" by Tom Clancy) that captures the practitioner in a complex real-world work context featuring sophisticated electronic technologies. Describes how fiction can be adapted for and used as a basis for instructional design students to explore…

Reviews "Wired Together: The On-line Classroom in K-12, Volumes 1-4" edited by Zane L. Berge and Maui P. Collins which includes 19 essays, that asks pertinent questions regarding the effective use of computer technology in elementary and secondary school classrooms and then answers them from a sound pedagogical foundation. Provides…

Suggests an elementary school activity and questions to promote five types of mathematical thinking including modeling, logical analysis, inference, optimization, and abstraction. Discusses evaluating activities for mathematical reasoning opportunities. (ASK)