As assistive devices for students with disabilities become more useful and less expensive, special educators participating on teams which evaluate and select appropriate technology must consider fundamental educational principles, student characteristics, and the characteristics of the technology. (A table lists annual assistive technology…

This guide is designed to provide a basis for the effective design of instructional materials for distance education. Organized around a model of instructional development which encompasses both external structural factors (factors that are largely outside the direct control of the individual instructor but which must be investigated) and internal…

This package contains self-paced training materials for mental health aides, designed to increase career mobility for lower grade Civil Service employees by preparing them to pass a Civil Service examination for upgrading. Procedures are described whereby the materials were developed by educational personnel at several adult education centers and…

This module contains the outline, handouts, and transparency masters for a workshop designed to introduce teachers to stress management techniques, particularly through the use of peer support groups. The most effective format for this workshop is to present it as a three hour mini-workshop to a group of teachers who normally work together in the…

Suggestions are given regarding selection of gifts and toys for severely handicapped persons. General principles (such as safety and durability) are followed by specific suggestions about clothes, food, toys (including musical instruments and balls), books and records, and various types of equipment (such as blenders for food preparation, tape…

Discusses how to evaluate computer software for studying literature. Concludes that the best literature software encourages personal, divergent responses as well as formal analysis of the text. Briefly reviews six literature study programs. (MM)

Instructional materials for teaching about and preventing use of smokeless tobacco are briefly described, including primary prevention sources, secondary prevention sources, films and videotapes, slides and slide-tape sets, and printed materials. (CB)

Describes a method of using audiotape recorded lessons in place of lectures, known as Audio-Assisted Independent Study. (PD)

The videodisc offers flexibility in presentation, variety of media formats, and high visual stimulation for instruction of deaf students. It combines the interactive, individualized qualities of the computer with the visual qualities of television, film, and filmstrip. (Author/CL)

Educational software can be an effective way for teens to enhance their learning skills in out-of-school settings. Many software programs provide subject-specific content and tools to support conceptual learning and skills development. They allow for individual, self-paced learning experiences as well as collaborative projects. In addition,…

Publications, which can be anything from a one-page flier to a brochure to a poster or a book, can be relatively easy to create but very effective for helping to fight crime. This bulletin considers how publications can contribute to crime prevention; what it takes to start a publication; what are some of the challenges in creating a publication;…

Describes experimental Spanish program which employs simulated conversation strategies that allow students more freedom in their responses than in usual computer assisted language instruction programs, while error checking routines monitor for syntactic errors. (Author/BK)

Discusses origins of desire for authenticity in language teaching, analyzes the term, and describes some materials designed to fit in with a more rigorous view of what constitutes authenticity. Purpose is to create learning activities that demand an authentic response from foreign language students. (Author/BK)

The procedure for marketing special education materials developed by government money is detailed, and the array of technical assistance activities offered by LINC Resources is described. Material criteria is considered in terms of such aspects as timeliness, target audiences, effectiveness data, and product format. (CL)

The article discusses the evaluation of classroom materials for gifted children, and a one-page measure, "The Guide for Evaluating Instructional Materials for Gifted Children"' is given. (SW)