With the advent of faster and widely accessible information, communication and transportation technologies, people are living in an era where their actions increasingly influence and are influenced by realities in other parts of the world. Truly understanding their own communities, province and country requires gaining a deep understanding of the …

This study is concerned with different forms of assessment of pupils' skills in experimentation. The findings of three studies are reported. Study 1 investigates whether it is possible to develop reliable multiple-choice tests for the skills of forming hypotheses, designing experiments and analysing experimental data. Study 2 compares scores from…

Our project to embed formative student assessments in the Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching curriculum required a close collaboration between curriculum developers at the Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG) and assessment developers at the Stanford Educational Assessment Laboratory (SEAL). This was a new endeavor for each…

Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate how science and engineering graduates can be recruited and trained to Masters level in precision engineering as an aid to reducing the skills shortage of mechanical engineers in UK industry. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes a partnership between three UK academic institutions and industry,…

As populations in contemporary Western societies grow more diverse, the need for teachers to better understand and work with difference productively becomes increasingly critical (Allard & Santoro, 2006; D'Cruz, 2007). However, the literature on teacher education shows that historically, teacher education programs have aimed to address…

This assessment of the status of research on instructional development (ID) discusses such conceptual problems as the confusion between ID and instructional design, reviews previous research, and proposes a framework for future ID research. Decision-oriented issues discussed within this framework include: (1) administrative and policy issues of ID…

This discussion of validation procedures for learning hierarchies based on an analysis of a target skill of instruction to aid in the instructional development process indicates that there is no catalog of validated hierarchies available for this use, and that the literature provides little assistance to the developer seeking practical procedures.…

A review of the literature on interest and emotion provides an organizing framework for a conceptual model of learner interest in terms of its emotional components. The dimensions of pleasure and arousal are seen as closely related to those of evaluation and activity in a number of studies. A third dimension related to potency is also apparent in…

Focuses on four aspects of the management function--the management of the organization, of information, of personnel, and of resources, i.e., time, space, and money. (RAO)

A review of relevant literature considers different views on ideological bias and what they offer economics teachers deciding what to teach and how to teach it. Particular emphasis is placed on: (1) determining the appropriate mix and sequencing of instruction on positive and normative ideas; (2) determining the amount of instructional time; and…

Reports results of survey of 116 members of Division of Instructional Development, Association for Educational Communications and Technology, concerning frequently recommended instructional development books. Tables covering respondents' job responsibilities, years of experience, and places of employment, most recommended books, and topics for new…

Discusses the use of educational impact statements and presents a functional process model for change facilitation. A specific example of the adaptation of this process is provided, going through the steps of: preplanning, strategy selection, implementation, and adoption, evaluation, research, and modification, monitoring, and follow-up. (RAO)

Identifies five basic assumptions of the "proactive approach" to instructional development and argues for the use of that approach by instructional technologists in training developed for business organizations. Four tactics for moving an organization in a proactive direction are described, and guidelines followed by a large California bank are…

Includes a review of the elements of ideal project contracts, some suggestions concerning contract negotiation, and a sample contract from a recent development project. (Author/JEG)

Concepts and methods for analyzing the social system and recent advances in the technical functions of development are discussed. Four development functions are highlighted: management of the development process, formal analysis, strategy specification, and evaluation. (Author)