Organization of this graduate course of study in educational media research and theory consists primarily of developing a course outline, providing a single objective and some teaching suggestions and approaches for each unit, and gathering an extensive bibliography (with specific reference to the most recent and the most useful sources). Unit 1 presents an overview of the literature. Unit 2 considers the psychology of learning, perception, physiology, and communication process and information theory. Unit 3, Media Characteristics and Effects, studies the specific characteristics that different media hold jointly or uniquely. The fourth unit, Message Design and Production, deals with preproduction testing and evaluation, motion and audio relevance, repetition, active student response, directed attention and response guidance, and technical production factors. The fifth unit, titled Media Relationships to Instructional Objectives and Subject Matter, and the sixth unit, Media Relationships to Learner Characteristics, indicate directions for much needed research. The final unit, Conditions of Instructional Media Use, applies educational media to practical situations. Class development of a synthesis and taxonomy is encouraged. (MM)