This paper presents an overview of distance education technologies and a discussion of the potential benefits and abuses for special education of interactive television distance education. Technologies described include microcomputer systems, satellite transmission, and telephone lines as media transmitters. (Author/DB)

The effectiveness of advanced learning technologies is discussed and the concept of Just-in-Time Learning Systems with the potential of multimedia for interactive learning is advocated. Five key elements of a multimedia learning system are presented, including the use of digitized video. (LB)

A survey of 1,649 companies (14 percent response) found that production workers have moved into a tie for second place among those who received training. Only salespeople received more and professionals received the same amount. (JOW)

Describes various electronic technologies available for classroom use, including videocassette news reports, educational computer games based on knowledge of geographical and historical trivia, and other software programs developed expressly for schools. Nintendo Company is being watched for optical disk developments, and "virtual…

Looks at developments in information delivery (including new interactive media formats, vastly increased channel capacity for standard cable television, and the development of wireless cable and other distribution technologies) that are revolutionizing the communications industry. Raises questions about the role technical communicators are being…

The 1990s will usher in increasingly sophisticated interactive multimedia technologies leading to widespread employment of virtual reality. The arts (visual, music, drama, dance, and creative writing) are intimately involved with instructional technology's future. The arts provide both adult (commercial) creators and contributors to the programs…

Describes using an open-ended personal-inquiry instructional model to teach fifth- and sixth-grade students how to author interactive multimedia stories using HyperCard. (SR)

Computer-assisted language-learning literature points to a need for experimentation with innovative learning structures to realize the full potential of recent technological developments. Reports on a research project that addresses these concerns by exploring the experiences of 23 French second-language learners as they worked independently with…

Examined the attitudes of key participants in a telehealth project, conducted by the Kansas University Medical Center and one school district, which brought health care into the schools via interactive video technology. Archival data and participant interviews indicated that initial challenges and negative attitudes were overcome to effectively…

Evaluates the effectiveness of the Florida Teletraining Project, a project that used video teletraining to provide distance education courses to United States military personnel. Describes the instructional methods and strategies used and reports results of performance tests and reactions of students and instructional personnel. Findings indicate…

Interviews of 12 television production specialists at universities revealed that they had no prior distance education experience but used prior television experience for instructional design, especially relative to audience analysis, instructors' needs, media integration, and interactivity. Experience rather than theory informed their design…

Reports on an Open University evaluation study of the Informedia Digital Video Library System developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Findings indicate that there is definite potential for using the system, provided that certain modifications can be made. Results also confirm findings of the Informedia team at CMU that the content of video…

Computer screen-based interactives can be very effective exhibits and are especially popular with children. Summarizes what museum researchers at London's Science Museum learned while testing computer-interactive exhibits. Topics include typical modes of behavior at computer exhibits, features that improve exhibit attractiveness, effective use of…

Two faculty in business and public and environmental affairs find that students need to move between personal-based experience, data, and a higher level of analytical reasoning. Their teaching of marketing and statistics is shown to benefit from the structured analysis and detailed assessments of the Decoding the Disciplines model.

Interactive videoconferencing (IVC) is gaining support among a growing number of teachers, administrators, and technologists. Scott Merrick examines the benefits and potential uses of IVC in the K-12 classroom. IVC provides educators with access to a rich array of supplemental resources, enables students to interact with experts to whom they would…