A California school district revamped its curriculum and established a quality-control testing system that evaluates how teachers and students are doing. The success of the program was dependent on the support of teachers and parents. Outlined are three important points for establishing such support. (MD)

Suggests individual educational technologists have developed a variety of work styles including those characterized as: knowledge expert, executive manager, social-analyst, and specialist. These styles of working, based upon work behaviors of educational technologists at Great Britain's Open University, are compared in terms of practices, focuses,…

Discusses development and use of Open Learning Institute's computerized course development and production systems which solved some of the inherent problems in course writing. A network of microcomputers which facilitates preparation of production-ready manuscripts and course authoring templates constructed from word processing software is…

Describes a case study which used the Agency for Instructional Television instructional development model to develop a television series on economics. Findings show how the model guided the series, its advantages, and its strengths and limitations, and identifies discrepancies between ideal use of instructional development and actual application.…

Two views of social studies curriculum development are discussed. The technical project view assumes a linear sequence of discrete events; the social process view assumes a dynamic, interactive relationship among policy, planning, enactment, and their sociocultural context. An alternative conception that integrates technical, social, and critical…

Introduces and defines strategic planning in organizational training, describes four current schools of curriculum theory--subject-centered, experience-centered, objectives-centered, and opportunity-centered--and illustrates how each theory can be modified to make training anticipate as well as react to organizational needs. (MBR)

Discusses standards developed by the Educational Computer Service of the National Education Association that incorporate technical, educational, and documentation components to guide authors in the development of quality educational software. (Author/MBR)

This study reports findings which pinpoint problems of computers in education. Maximizing their successful use in the classroom requires qualified staff, adequate hardware, and support materials. Principals must manage the implementation process effectively to ensure computer effectiveness in education. (MM)

Describes a study of student performance on national exams conducted in Nebraska by a consortium of nine school districts. Includes three tables. (MD)

Describes and compares three approaches to task analysis--behaviorally-based, concept-based, and cognitive process-based--and provides four tentative recommendations for determining which approach is appropriate in a particular situation. Five flowcharts and fourteen references are included. (MBR)

Examines the application of naturalistic inquiry to the field of instructional development and suggests that such inquiry needs to be informed by research traditions in sociology. Drawing on social movement theory, an example of analogical theorizing is presented illustrating how this theory can be applied to exploration of instructional…

Computers are the objects of instruction, the means to deliver instruction, and tools for learning. Short case studies of particular programs show how computers are being used. Also discussed is how computer programs can be implemented. (JMK)

Intensive Assistance is presented as a routine to be used in helping marginal teachers improve. It is a systems team approach and provides a vehicle for developing human resources. (MD)

Discussion of the instructional development process from the subject matter experts' perspective explains how this process can be threatening and demotivating for them and how instructional developers can use interpersonal skills to overcome these problems. Topics covered include use of contracts, building a supportive climate, and active…

Provides guidelines for building self-instructional training packages to teach beginning microcomputer skills at any age level. Five steps are explained: outline curriculum and objectives, structure one lesson, produce the instruction, package the materials, and manage the lesson. (MBR)