If learners are to engage in science inquiry, they need significant support, or scaffolding, to help them mindfully do the cognitive science tasks that are just out of their reach. One approach for supporting learners is to design computational tools that incorporate scaffolding features to make new practices accessible and visible so learners can…

A design rationale for introducing electronic equipment (a group response system) for student interaction in lecture theaters is presented, linking the instructional design to theory. The effectiveness of the equipment for learning depends mostly on what pedagogic method is employed. Various alternative types are introduced, including: assessment;…

Classroom second language instruction can be characterized as one of the following: focus-on-formS, focus-on-meaning, or focus-on-form. The book titled "Focus on Form in Classroom Second Language Acquisition" (Doughty & Williams, 1998) argues for the desirability of focus-on-form over focus-on-formS and focus-on-meaning, discussing the efficacy…

This study used the Delphi research method to develop the Online Adult Learning Inventory, an instrument to apply the principles of adult learning to Web-based instruction. Twelve experts in the fields of adult learning and online course development working with the researchers constructed the instrument and validated its content. (Contains 1…

This paper describes a model adapted from Zenger and Zenger's (1992) Ten-Step Curricular Planning Process Model. The adapted version, which was used to revise and update a university-level curriculum in Journalism and Mass Communications, includes the following steps: (1) identify challenges; (2) determine needs; (3) develop role and mission…

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a quasi-experimental study of the effects on student achievement resulting from the redesign of an existing anatomy course for a cohort of Occupational Therapy students. This study was based on a design strategy that combined two different instructional technology approaches to teaching and…

This conference addressed pedagogical, social, and technological issues related to computers in education. The conference theme, "Learning Societies in the New Millennium: Creativity, Caring & Commitments," focused on creative learning, caring for diverse cultures and global issues, and committing oneself to a new way of…

The three guides in the new Information Literacy Toolkit Series can help school library media specialists and teachers to promote and teach information literacy skills to young library users and to: collaborate in curriculum planning so that students will develop a cohesive skill set; teach the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that…

This paper proposes the use of specific coaching strategies to facilitate students' use of expert-like problem-solving strategies while analyzing and solving instructional design case studies. Findings from an exploratory study, designed to examine changes in students' problem-solving skills as they analyzed case studies, suggested that students…

This paper presents a guide, based on the experiences of some online teachers and students at Ohio University, offering practical information for instructors who want to teach online more effectively. Online instructional tips are organized and provided in four main areas. The first area of guidelines focuses on pedagogical aspects, and discusses…

The purpose of this study was to determine if learning orientation, time, and learning environment accounted for significant variance, effects, and interactions. The investigator developed a course for adults, entitled "Discovering the Web," presented it in three World Wide Web learning environments, and provided adapted solutions for audiences…

Over the last five years, several online courses covering different subjects have been developed and delivered in different settings at Wageningen UR (Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands). The total course content developed and delivered with a learning environment is equivalent with about 700 hours of study, and…

This digest explores media options as they relate to instructional design for distance education, because the function and design of each medium needs to be understood, if it is to lead to learning. It also describes other types of delivery media used in the history of distance learning before online learning programs: print, radio and telephone,…

This paper focuses on Michael, one of four seventh grade students who participated in a study involving a constructivist teaching experiment. In the study, manipulatives within a computer microworld were used to solve fractional reasoning tasks and tasks that involved concepts of rate, ratio, and proportionality. Pretest results are presented, and…

Universities and corporate training centers are under pressure to offer increasingly flexible, as well as individually relevant, learning. Instead of trying to develop a stream of Web-based courses to run parallel to "business as usual" courses, a department can focus on gradually building a knowledge base in which key resources from…