The behind-the-scenes story of "Sesame Street" is told from its origin as a "good idea," through the development of the Children's Television Workshop, to the casting of the now familiar characters, Susan, Bob, Gordon, Mr. Hooper, and the Muppets. Details of producing the show are described with anecdotes. The effect of…

Reports on an empirical investigation of behaviors exhibited by early elementary school children while viewing two programs of a children's bilingual multicultural educational television series. The effects of the program on group membership, grade level and sex during viewing were examined. (Author/DEP)

Television's combination of wide appeal and potential for distortion is giving advocates of equality for the sexes concern about its influence in perpetuating sexist notions. (Editor)

Even though we lack definitive research evidence concerning television's effects upon children the pervasiveness of television and its fascination for children suggest that it is possible to use this component of our culture consciously in an effort to benefit children. (Author/JM)

Authors describe the results of their research project dealing with what children like about commercial television and the implications for instructional television. (HB)

Author, vice-president and director of research at the Children's Television Workshop, describes the research conducted for Sesame Street. (MB)

Presents evidence that, contrary to popular assumptions, television viewing and learning both involve a high degree of social interaction. "Collaborative learning television" is proposed as a means of promoting learning by taking advantage of the social nature of watching television and the social nature of learning. Twenty-five references are…

A study examined three different visual formats (studio presenter only, realistic visuals, or schematic visuals) of an educational television program. Recognition and recall of the abstract subject matter were measured in 101 adult viewers directly after the program and 3 months later. The schematic version yielded better recall of the program,…

"Lift Off" is a new, innovative children's television series produced by the Australian Children's Television Foundation that has been well received by young children, parents, critics, and educators. One typical half-hour program is profiled. Questions the claims that "Lift Off" will enrich the lives of a whole age cohort,…

This discussion and critique of television programs used in two courses--D102 (vandalism) and M101 (mathematics)--at the British Open University suggests that the television presentation of real life-like raw material can facilitate the comprehension of abstract material inasmuch as it provides concrete illustrations, and provides an opportunity…

An ongoing project has been established to (1) summarize and disseminate results of research on children and television to the creative community responsible for commercial and educational children's television, and (2) defuse the issues that have created a rift between this community and the academic community. The research efforts discussed in…

The mass media and especially television pose problems for teachers in humanities disciplines traditionally associated with leisure, time for reflection, and the quiet contemplation of the good, true, and beautiful. Although other media have been criticized for their deleterious effects, television most affects humanists in their mission because…

Television's impact on children is the focus of this document, which includes a review of the research on the subject, a master bibliography containing 3,000 items written between 1955 and the present, and 13 specialized bibliographies. Specific topics addressed include violence and its effects, prosocial television, socialization, television…