Argues that consideration of constructivism's epistemological implications suggests that educational technologists need to convince learners of a problem's authenticity rather than to promote environments that deliver "preauthenticated" problems. Proposes guidelines to assist developers of educational technologies in accommodating the essentially…

Defines a "geek" as a person in love with technology, computers, and the Internet, and suggests ways that technology-training professionals can discover their "inner geek" to improve their ability to design appropriate learning and performance systems. Presents actions to take and examples for game playing; exploring; embracing technology;…

In an attempt to provide students with the benefit of the latest technology, some instructors include multimedia content on their class Web sites. This article introduces the basic terms and concepts needed to understand the multimedia domain. Provides a brief tutorial designed to help instructors create good, consistent audio-visual content. (AEF)

The extensive literature, situated mainly in "first world" contexts, on design and evaluation of distance learning materials, emphasises the importance of student feedback. This paper begins with an account of how two groups of students responded to questions on a text they had used in an inservice professional development programme for teachers…

This paper reports on how prospective users may be involved in the design of entertaining educational computer games. The paper illustrates an approach, which combines traditional Participatory Design methods in an applicable way for this type of design. Results illuminate the users' important contribution during game development, especially when…

In the communities dealing with the design and implementation of on-line teaching and training (higher education, government, industry), SCORM is a hot topic these days. The "Sharable Content Object Reference Model" is a standard for the packaging and deployment of Web-based "learning objects," defined by Bob Banks as "a relatively small, reusable…

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) professionals know that initial efforts to produce or adapt materials generally require evaluative review and revision. A review process that solicits feedback from teacher and student users is critical because materials writers often find it difficult to envision the problems others may have with their…

For NSTA, 2001-2002 was a productive year as they worked to fulfill their mission and meet the presidential goals of "Learning Science and the Science of Learning." They enhanced many of their traditional offerings while bringing several new popular programs and initiatives to fruition. As always, they aimed to give teachers a variety of rich…

Adult language learners have specific learning goals that reflect their lives within a global society, and adults negotiate multiple and changing identities throughout their personal, academic, and professional lives. Chapters in "Authenticity in the Language Classroom and Beyond: Adult Learners" highlight how teachers have the ability…

This handbook, which is one in a series of handbooks designed to help tech prep practitioners replicate successful materials/projects/programs developed by Partnership for Academic and Career Education (PACE) consortium members, explains how to develop a guide to area business speakers. Background information on the PACE consortium is presented.…

This report describes a project undertaken with the San Francisco Unified School District (California) to develop a process and approach to the development of instructional materials for limited-English-speaking students and training and support materials for their teachers. The report outlines the following aspects of the project: the role of the…

A learning module was designed to provide orientation information to new inmate workers employed in one of the nonprofit prison industries that are part of Florida's PRIDE program. The orientation was intended to inform inmate workers about PRIDE program industries' mission and inmate job benefits. The module was developed on the basis of…

This paper describes the Perseus Project, an undertaking begun in the Classics Department of Harvard University devoted to the creation of a massive interactive hypermedia product on ancient Greek culture. The project is discussed in terms of its importance; contents; funding; development; delivery systems; future releases; costs; user acceptance…

In 1995, this project was undertaken at Rochester Community College (RCC), in Minnesota, to develop a guide to services for students with disabilities to improve the provision of legally-required services and information. To determine both the special services needed by students with disabilities for college success and the topics that should be…

This report describes a project to develop instructional materials for the Harrisburg Housing Authority that would enable tenants to understand more clearly the terms of their lease agreements. Project products were designed for tenants, many of whom were students in adult basic education classes, and for housing authority personnel who…