Describes three classes of variables which should be considered when one is designing instructional materials, doing research on instruction, or developing better methods of instruction, and proposes a classification scheme which is summarized in the last of the 13 figures that illustrate the article. A blbliography is included. (Author/RAO)

Discusses how teachers and instructional designers can encourage critical thinking in students through epistemic games, reflective knowledge-generating activities that can be created for any knowledge domain. Provides examples for various subjects. Presents a method for organizing instructional material into appropriate epistemic forms and for…

Offers comments on articles in this special issue relating to critical theory, deconstruction, and postmodernism as they affect educational technology. Topics discussed include the modernist, positivist approach to educational technology; systems theory and instructional design; evaluating media for stereotypes; and mastery learning. (LRW)

Defines dialogue and traces some of the forces that underlie thinking and acting in social settings where collective action is sought. Discusses stages and core elements in the dialog process. Describes results of the Dialog Project at MIT in terms of research sites, theory, facilitator development, educational material, an international…

INSTAN, a computer program designed to aid in appropriate media selection for classroom teaching, comprises three interrelated sections which focus on instructional objectives, the instructional environment, and instructional material selection. INSTAN is not described as an all-inclusive media selection model, but as a paradigm for further…

Provides general overview of most popular microcomputer hardware (tape cassette-based, cartridge-based, disk-based) noting display, keyboard, system characteristics, and price. Discussion of available educational software includes commercial publishers, nonprofit educational agencies, free or low-cost software, and authoring languages and test…

Discusses captioning of instructional video programs for people with hearing disabilities. Topics addressed include closed captioning versus open captioning; captioning of prerecorded programs; external captioning sources; local captioning methods; captioning systems; lower cost alternatives for open captioning; and multimedia personal computers…

Discusses the development of various technologies up through the Internet, and notes that the means have been confused with the ends. Argues that educators and users should first focus on the learning material's content and on performance design that delivers useful results, before selecting the means of delivery (the Internet). (AEF)

This article proposes three guidelines for mobile technology design that address the needs and goals of teachers who are considered mainstream with regard to technology use. Devices should be easy to learn and use, focused on the curriculum, and instruction-friendly. Only if the three guidelines are followed by hardware and software developers…

Administrator and teacher attitudes toward and trends in their use of various types of instructional materials were elicited through focus group interviews and a rating form. Results reported include discernable trends, suggestions for improvement in media use, ratings of instructional materials, and highlights of data analysis using various…

Suggests conventional evaluation reports are inappropriate for what needs to be portrayed for software users concerned with acquisition, software adaptation, design and development, and teacher implementation decisions. Two forms for evaluating information are described and illustrated--a narrative portrayal form and a design and development…

Article proposes a multi-phased research and development project designed to produce a computer managed spelling program based upon the theoretical model of spelling behavior postulated by Personke and Yee. (Author)

A look at the use of the computer in instructional areas where speed, accuracy and recall are important. Practice sets for drill are discussed. (Author/HB)

Author looks at programed learning and analyzes why he believes it has not been as sucessful an educational tool as many educators predicted. (HB)

Article is based on two main theses: One, qualitative improvements in education will not come about as a result of rhetoric or superficial proposals for solution made by the so-called new breed'' of educator, but rather as a result of a deeper understanding of the teaching-learning process, and the development and use of new and better principles…