Describes the Information Technology Career Ladder (ITCL) program of the New College at Clayton College and State University (Georgia). ITCL is the first competency-based, three-tiered (certificate, associate, bachelor's degrees) IT program at a United States University. Outlines key design principles that set the program apart from more…

Describes a study of undergraduate students that examined whether a structural overview of relations between sections of hypertext leads to a deeper understanding of the material. Results supported the hypothesis that a structural overview may hinder the understanding of less knowledgeable readers. (Author/LRW)

Presents the story of one graduate student's experience in an advanced instructional-design class at San Diego State University. The class places students with real clients for a semester of instructional design and technology-consulting work. Author offers students encouragement to learn about the softer side of educational-technology consulting.…

Describes the design of courses for the study of German in primary and secondary schools, where students in Hamburg University's Department of Education cooperate with high school students via e-mail, messageboard, and chat. Discusses the theoretical framework and institutional setting and results from text analysis and questionnaires examining…

Reports the experience of one international organization, the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), a global corporation based in New Delhi, India, in attempting to reach the factory goal in the field of technology-based training. Describes the challenges and issues associated with that quest. (Author/AEF)

The purpose of the project described in this article was the development, evaluation, and implementation of an interactive multimedia CD-ROM instructional package used to train steelworkers in the basic concepts of hydraulic fluid power. The project was a university/industry partnership between Purdue University and the Burns Harbor Division of…

This article discusses three issues facing students of color and students considered at risk for school failure because of inequities in regard to technology: (1) technologies to which they do and do not have access; (2) the types of instruction typically used with the student population; and (3) barriers preventing equitable access to and…

Presents strategies for making instructional technology more emotionally sound. Discusses fear, envy, anger, sympathy, and pleasure, and describes 20 instructional strategies that can be used to decrease negative emotions and increase positive emotions including computer-assisted instruction, multimedia, linked information, social networks on the…

Discusses the growing importance of the World Wide Web as a delivery method in higher education and offers guidelines to faculty and designers regarding transitioning from face-to-face classroom instruction to Web-based instruction. Highlights include managerial considerations; pedagogical considerations; designing Web-based instruction; social…

Designing the instructional interface is a challenging endeavor requiring knowledge and skills in instructional and visual design, psychology, human-factors, ergonomic research, computer science, and editorial design. This paper describes the instructional interface, the challenges of its development, and an instructional systems approach to its…

Presents a method for flexible instructional development which aims at assisting the educational designers in the development of modules that are easily adaptable to different learners' needs and allow learners' choices and different delivery platforms, including distance education. (AEF)

This study compared the instructional contexts of 15 students with severe disabilities educated in general education elementary classrooms and 15 general education students in those same classrooms. Different instructional contexts existed for students with severe disabilities and more individualized instructional supports were provided,…

Explores the significance of concept mapping for education and curriculum development. Discusses two main streams in curriculum paradigms and important processes, and the functions which concept mapping can have in education and curriculum development. Examines why students in educational institutions don't yet make systematic use of concept maps,…

Explores changing curricular designs and the differences between traditional and authentic learning. Identifies significant design features of authentic design, and provides examples of these features with instructional units. (AEF)

Examines the past and projects the future path of instructional design (ID). Discusses teacher cognition; common elements in instructional activities and teachers and designers; ID models and teacher planning; instructional design perspectives; and the need to bridge the gap between instructional design theory and the practice of teaching.…