It has been suggested that both internal (e.g., acceptability) and external (e.g., feasibility) factors should be taken under consideration in order to fully understand children's usage of interventions designed to improve their behavior. The purpose of this study was to initiate development of a student self-report measure (Children's Usage…

Offers 10 specific suggestions for redefining the role of homework in mathematics instruction in order to teach students to see homework as a tool and an integral part of learning. (DMM)

A workbook for library instruction was revised using computer-generated examples selected randomly and tailored to six general subject areas. The new version (1) increased the challenge to students; (2) improved student attitudes; (3) increased contact with reference staff; (4) reduced possibility of sharing answers; and (5) was easier to update.…

Designing publications to recruit graduate students is a far different task from designing materials for undergraduates. Syracuse University has found three principles helpful: relying on the expertise of the institution's academic units; providing useful information, not a sales pitch; and using desktop publishing to produce targeted…

Describes examples of outstanding videodiscs, summarizes evidence on effectiveness of videodisc as a teaching tool, and discusses factors associated with design of effective videodisc for instruction. Such factors include interactivity, visual design, organization, active participation, metaphors and models, personality, and a team approach. (MBR)

This report describes a formative evaluation and presents an overview of the background and design of an instructional television series, "On the Level," designed to encourage teenagers' personal and social development. The series includes 12 15-minute video programs, 12 audio programs, and a student workbook. The design issues discussed…

A formative evaluation was conducted of the instructional television program "Daddy's Girl" from "On the Level," a series of 12 lessons designed to aid secondary school students in dealing with personal and social growth. Designed to teach that adolescents usually have to work out new relationships with their parents and that…

A formative evaluation was conducted of the instructional television program "What Next?" from the Career Aspirations unit of "On the Level," a series of 12 lessons designed to aid secondary school students in dealing with personal and social growth. A total of 127 students in 8 Chicago public school classes viewed the program.…

The goals of this study were to understand the expectations of both designers and teachers for the design and use of packages that integrate computer and television technologies, and to investigate the implementation of these packages in the classroom. Interviews were conducted with eight designers of "The Voyage of the Mimi" (MIMI), a…

A formative evaluation was conducted of the instructional television program "Brad's Journey through Stress," from the Coping with Stress unit of "On the Level," a series of 12 lessons designed to aid secondary school students in dealing with personal and social growth. The evaluation involved 291 students in 9 classes in…

This report describes the formative evaluation of the first three rough-cut instructional television programs for "On the Level," a series of 12 lessons dealing with personal and social growth for secondary school students. Results discussed are based on viewing three programs in a total of 36 classrooms at sites in Maryland, Tennessee,…

The Catalyst project at Indiana University sought to increase awareness of research ethics questions among the faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates, and to develop and disseminate instructional materials. The participating departments were biology, history, and psychology, representing, respectively, the natural sciences, the humanities,…

Formative evaluations were conducted for the last four rough-cut instructional television programs--"Peers,""Friendship,""Prejudice," and "Thinking"--from "On the Level," a series of 12 lessons designed to aid secondary school students in dealing with personal and social growth. The following…

This report of a study of 36 Australian families involved in distance education suggest ways to improve learning materials and cautions that more needs to be known about how children learn in isolation before new communication technologies can be used effectively. Researchers interviewed parents, pupils, and home tutors--mothers or governesses,…

Describes a computer-aided personalized system of instruction (CAPSI) and its implementations for both on-campus and off-campus teaching at the University of Manitoba. Highlights include electronic mail, student reactions, the use of data that are saved throughout the course, and future possibilities. (Author/LRW)