This paper presents two types of approaches to media selection--rational-choice approaches and social-influence approaches. It is argued that designers should combine the two types of approaches in a bottom-up/top-down media-selection process. As examples of the two types of approaches, two conceptual frameworks are described--task/media fit and…

The goals for a Chapter 1 program are to help children succeed in the regular program, attain grade level proficiency, and improve achievement. Students have attained these goals in both pull-out and in-class programs. Most research suggests that the model used is not as important as the degree of coordination between the Chapter 1 and the regular…

This paper presents an instructional strategy found to be effective in meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional (CLDE) students. The strategy, called "Committees," involves dividing the class into small groups and assigning each group a different activity revolving around a selected theme or concept. Students rotate…

Distance education course designers should be careful to ensure that the instructional materials they create are not only oriented towards the learners, but also that they do not make exorbitant demands on the teachers who are expected to use them. The materials should help the teacher to take advantage of the media available without undermining…

The six papers in this collection were presented at two seminars held at Monash University in August 1990. (The materials have not been edited in any way and, in some cases, they comprise copies of overheads which accompanied the presentations.) The materials were designed for people without much background or experience in distance education who…

Findings of a study that examined whether individual teacher attributes or organizational conditions influence classroom pedagogical practices in southern Africa are presented in this document. Methodology involved observation and administration of a questionnaire to 244 secondary teachers in Botswana. Findings indicate that teacher behaviors in…

The purpose of this paper is to review literature on analogical reasoning, to work out the implications of Polya's model of analogical problem solving, and to propose an alternative model of instructional design based on the use of analogical reasoning. Justification of the model is based on research on the nature of analogical thought and an…

This report describes hypermedia as a non-linear interlinked representation of textual, graphic, visual and audio material, that enables students to connect large bodies of information while developing analytical skills necessary to think critically about this information. It is noted that the use of microcomputers for hypermedia instruction…

Clarity of written expression is prized highly in the university curriculum and in the societal arena. Professors need to study, analyze, and appraise diverse recommended philosophies in teaching writing. An existentialist writing curriculum should: include extensive input from students on topics, forms of writing to be emphasized, and planning of…

Color monitors are in wide use in computer systems. Thus, it is important to understand how to apply color effectively in computer assisted instruction (CAI) and computer based training (CBT). Color can enhance learning, but it does not automatically do so. Indiscriminate application of color can mislead a student and thereby even interfere with…

The effect of the interaction between cognitive style differences (field dependence/field independence) and various degrees of visual complexity on pictorial recall memory was explored using three sets of visuals in three different formats--line drawing, black and white, and color. The subjects were 86 undergraduate students enrolled in two core…

Taken from the terms "computer" and "paideia," the term "compupaideia" refers to the cultural context of computer assisted instruction (CAI) and computer assisted learning (CAL). The question may be raised, what is the cultural context that made CAI desirable, and how does one determine whether CAI is well suited to a particular culture? The…

Teachers are provided with a model and general recommendations for efficient and effective instructional planning. The model, a map, begins with an identification of the major concepts, skills, and attitudes to be taught. A graphic route is then charted for logical planning towards achieving these instructional objectives. Nine…

Three main factors in textbook selection for distance education--readability, appropriateness, and availability--are examined in detail, and suggestions for adapting standardized texts to the needs of individual groups are provided. Twelve specific criteria are listed for determining the appropriateness of a text and textual factors influencing…

Physics learning studies demonstrate that students' pre-instructional world knowledge is often logically antagonistic to the principles of Newtonian mechanics taught in introductory physics courses. Under these conditions psychological theory predicts that learning will be inhibited, a prediction consistent with both the experiences of physics…