Local school districts do not figure prominently in contemporary school reform efforts centered at state and school levels. This article examines how two school districts responded to an expanding state role in instructional policy making. Case studies underline districts' key reform role and suggest that state and local instructional policies are…

The case study investigated the special skills, attributes, and perspectives that an elementary-school media specialist brought to an instructional planning process while working with teaching teams. Teachers reported that the media specialist improved the quality of resources, enhanced cooperation and communication within and among teaching…

Provides an overview of the book "Instructional Technology: The Definition and Domains of the Field," a collaborative effort of the authors and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology to redefine the field of instructional technology. Highlights include theory and practice; domains, including design, development,…

Presents 12 principles for "brain-based" learning that can serve as guidelines for defining and selecting instructional programs and methodologies. Discussion includes implications for education, suggestions for teaching information literacy skills, individual differences in the learning process, and the use of multimedia technologies. (AEF)

Advocates a systems approach to designing educational systems in a changing world. The intellectual technology of systems design is outlined; and a design architecture is described that addresses definition of the new system, system specifications, key functions, organizational issues, and the systemic environment. Organizing perspectives for…

Presents an edited transcript of a discussion among experts on academic software in which they discuss software development in composition studies. (RS)

Evaluation of the self-monitoring of instructional decisions by three instructors in a continuing education program for adults with severe mental retardation found initial inconsistent adherence to the data-based rules for making instructional decisions, which was successfully modified by an individual training session in which participants…

Discusses myths underlying the curriculum, teacher knowledge of the curriculum, and constructivist perspectives of the curriculum that need to be considered if curriculum reform is to succeed. Goals, pedagogical features, a typical session, and field test evaluation results for the ScienceVision hypermedia system are described. Sample screen…

Describes a study which analyzed think-aloud protocols of four expert and four novice instructional designers working on a design problem in physics instruction. Differences between novices and experts in problem interpretation, problem analysis, problem representation, solution generation, the solution, internal resources, external resources, and…

Examines definitions and goals of the field of performance technology. Topics discussed include a model for visualizing performance technology; needs assessment; front-end analysis; the design and development of relevant and cost-effective training/educational interventions; testing; implementation; evaluation; and job aids. (LRW)

A set of procedures for designing instruction and teaching concepts to students with learning difficulties is outlined. The following topics are discussed: (1) concept analysis, (2) concept definitions, (3) use of examples and nonexamples, (4) instructional sequence, and (5) diagnostic assessment. The role of technology in concept instruction is…

Software systems are being created to assist both novice and expert instructional technologists in response to perceived need of organizations to increase their training. Underlying philosophies and goals of instructional developer automation tools and their potential effects upon the organizations who adopt them must be examined so they will help…

Discussion of videodisc instruction for education and training focuses on a seven-stage quality control model for use with large development projects. Topics discussed include development of instructional goals, videodisc design, development review, production review, programing review, revisions, and a final review and sign off. (eight…

Developmental framework identifies four phases in the knowledge and application base for teaching elementary physical education: acquiring a knowledge base; integrating subject areas within the major's knowledge base; applying knowledge; and evaluating teaching experience. The steps influence preservice teachers' teaching abilities so they…

Discusses changes in the field of educational technology from a mechanistic to a more humanistic view, and highlights the importance of interpersonal skills through three studies conducted in the British Open University: one dealing with instructional development, one with the evaluation of teaching and teaching systems, and one with the fostering…