Across the OECD, enormous effort and investment has been made to reinforce the quality, production and use of education research in policy and practice. Despite this, using research in education remains a challenge for many countries and systems. The OECD launched the Strengthening the Impact of Education Research project to respond to this…

An alternative research methodology is presented which focuses on the aims and values of education while attending to the learner as an elaborate, dynamic, everchanging total system. A summary covers the reactive, preactive, proactive, and spiralling learner systems, each of which meet the definitional system requirement of being dynamic, having a…

Describes a model of instructional theory relevant to individualized distance education that is based on Keller's Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), behavior analysis, and the instructional systems development model (ISD). Systems theory is emphasized, and ISD and behavior analysis are discussed as cybernetic processes. (LRW)

Describes study that compared the attainment gains of Guyanan secondary school children in science and geography following two different learning regimes, i.e., systematically designed learning materials, and conventional teaching. Implications of the results for curriculum design and teacher training are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Social penetration has been described by S.W. Littlejohn (1992) as "the process of increasing disclosure and intimacy in a relationship." The phrase "social penetration" originated with I. Altman and D. Taylor, the foremost researchers in this area. From other theories, Altman and Taylor developed a unified theory which…

This glossary offers definitions of almost 600 terms normally associated with the field of educational technology in brief and easy-to-understand form, all in Spanish (a Portugese version exists). The terms are organized into six major areas: learning, communications, instructional design, evaluation, media production, and systems theory. (Author)

The use of general systems theory in the field of instructional systems design (ISD) is explored in this paper. Drawing on work by Young, the writings of 12 representative ISD writers and researchers were surveyed to determine the use of 60 general systems theory concepts by the individual authors. The average number of concepts used by these…

Motivational design, a major component of the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) model that describes how to understand the motivation to learn, is described in this second article of a two-part series. Topics addressed include audience analysis; motivational objectives, measures, and motivational strategy design; and…

The evaluation criteria from the 1987 National Council for Accrediation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation standards were used as the basis for the design of professional preparation programs. A series of models are shown, which progress from an overview model to eight more specific sub-models. The design is intended to be generic and can…

Focuses on alternative paradigms to experimental inquiry useful to instructional systems researchers, including quasi-experimentation, meta-analysis, case study and ethnography, systems-based evaluation, and technique and model development. Each is discussed in terms of how it generally applies in the field and how it has been employed by…

Discusses difficulties in defining instructional systems design (ISD) and presents five ways the field is viewed, ranging from a narrow view emphasizing media selection to a complete ISD view. The ISD view emphasizes five main components: educational theory and research, system analysis, diffusion, consulting/interpersonal relations, and project…

Reviews the current state of educational technology, discusses some problems perceived by experts in the field, and suggests directions for its future. Systematic versus systemic theories of the field are emphasized, and the role of research in improving learner performance is described. (32 references) (LRW)

The report describes activities conducted during a 12-month baseline period preceding a series of longitudinal studies of the costs and effects of various types of early intervention with handicapped children conducted by the Early Intervention Research Institute at Utah State University. A systems theory perspective forms the theoretical base for…

Describes development of the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) model, a method for improving the motivational appeal of instructional materials. Strategies to identify and solve problems with learning motivation are explained, and two case studies are presented that tested the usefulness of the ARCS model in inservice teacher…

An environmental scanning system was developed by the admissions office of a graduate school of management in a small southeastern university. The school's strategic planning committee felt that it would be beneficial to acquire information concerning issues, trends, and possible events that might impact upon the school in the future and to…