Clifford Nass, one of the authors of "The Media Equation: How to Treat Computers, Television and New Media Like Real People and Places," observes that, when people interact with computers, television, and other new media, they tend to display the same social behaviors as when they react to other humans. (JOW)

The definition of educational technology has shifted from a focus on the organization and use of hardware and software items as a delivery system to recognizing that the introduction of technology into educational systems demands a systematic approach to enhance learning and human development. In the first definition, curriculum is the…

Examines the relationship between instructional technology and cognition and discusses interactions between the learner and instructional media. Models of the learning process are described, including reactive, proactive, and interactive models; examples of each are given; and their implications for instructional design are suggested. (LRW)

Discusses the selection of multimedia technology for training applications. Highlights include differences between media; information flow and pace; the concept of interaction; a comparison of media attributes; visual attributes, including text, graphics, pictures, moving images, and sound capability; and planning for the use of multimedia. (10…

Examines the characteristics of Compact Disc Interactive (CD-I) in terms of current learning theory and instructional design principles. Topics include attributes of CD-I, components of good instruction, and the following message design strategies: organization, interactivity, motivation, and interface design. (AEF)

Examines why textbooks will survive despite competition from new technological inventions. Discusses opposition to textbooks through the development of audiovisual aids, multimedia, and interactivity; advantages of textbooks over other educational media; development of print media; five principles for developing textbook content; and future…

Proposes a framework to help course developers design criteria for optimal media deployment. The merits of radio, television, audio, video, and print are briefly compared with computer-based media and analyzed in light of six types of media characteristics: symbol system, access, controllability, student reactivity, interactivity, and adaptivity.…