First discusses the philosophy, structure, and content of instruction for students with severe disabilities and then presents procedures to define and incorporate strategies to meet the unique needs of students with visual and multiple impairments. A five-step analysis process is suggested for modifying a core curriculum to individualize…

This second of a two-part article focuses on the history of instructional design in the United States. Starting with its origins during World War II, major events in the development of instructional design are described. Factors affecting the field over the last two decades, including increasing interest in cognitive psychology, microcomputers,…

Describes an experiment that looked at how adult learners made use of their Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI[R]), a personality assessment tool, type to cope with the challenges of learning in an online environment. Presents results of the experiment, and draws tentative conclusions. Provides notes related to the four psychological dimensions of…

Provides an introduction to this special issue on distance education and e-learning. Several questions related to these topics are presented, and the articles contained in the issue are summarized. (MES)

Provides one perspective on the design elements incorporated into the Pennsylvania State University World Campus Educational Technology Integration Certification courses and a brief overview of the authors' experiences facilitating these courses, including their opinions about theoretical and practical implications of different instructional…

Describes strategies used to teach mathematics to engineering students at Loughborough University (United Kingdom). Explains a combination of traditional instruction with computer assisted learning in an open learning environment that motivates students by providing a more flexible approach to be responsive to individual needs. (LRW)

Students ages 11-16 using 4 different educational multimedia packages were observed to determine how children make sense of interactive media. Design implications include the need to create a dynamic narrative which is motivating and absorbing by integrating the rhetoric with strong mythical elements. The interrelationship of narrative, linearity,…

This paper describes how functional assessment procedures can be used by classroom teachers to determine the relationships between instructional variables and challenging behavior in students with disabilities. A case study describes use of these procedures with an adolescent boy with severe developmental disabilities. (Author/PB)

Surveys existing efforts at using the World Wide Web for instructional purposes, points out innovative uses of the Web, and suggests ways for instructors and developers to optimize the design of instructional sites to better serve users. Mistakes to avoid are discussed, and addresses of 13 instructional sites are provided. (Author/LRW)

Provides a conceptual framework for evaluating Automated Instructional Design (AID) and Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) systems. Evaluation systems including personal, pedagogical, product-oriented, user-oriented, and context-oriented methods are discussed. Figures representing components of the evaluation process are presented. (Contains 25…

Reviews five transfer models that are effective in organizing knowledge sources and stimulating understanding in the process of transferring training skills to the job. Highlights include trainee characteristics, design factors, work environment, a systemic model of factors that predict employee training, trainers becoming performance…

Describes four stages of multimedia development: (1) preparation; (2) instructional design; (3) production; and (4) evaluation. Discusses strategies and recommendations for each of the steps as identified by the staff of the Educational Technology Laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina. (AEF)

Describes three typical scenarios in which distance education (DE) is used. Defines elements of DE and provides a rationale for its implementation. Discusses important trends in DE related to technology (i.e., advances in signal transporting and communication systems) and to pedagogy and andragogy (i.e., instructional design and planning for…

Explores how computers and cooperative language learning have dovetailed over the last 15 years, resulting in a phenomenon that may be called cooperative computer-assisted language learning (CCALL). Within the context of computer use, implications of the cooperative learning model are examined for three groups: language learners; courseware…

Second-language teaching should emphasize active experimentation and concrete experience to be effective. At the other extreme, for traditional disciplines such as business education, abstract conceptualization and reflective observation are important. If college programs combining business and second-language education are to be successful, they…