Discusses the advantages and uses of multimedia courseware and describes the step-by-step process for developing it. Includes tips for technology teachers who are new to this instructional method. (JOW)

Discussion of the development of educational software focuses on a project at the Dutch Open University to develop a pedagogical design specification method for educational software that is not bound to specific instructional design principles or learning theories. "SHOC-TOOL" is described as a supporting tool for use with interactive…

Provides information on designing an effective and efficient computer user interface. Topics include determining an audience's mental model of the subject; creating effective navigation systems; components of the interface; what to consider when designing the interface; and the multimedia interface design process. (Author/LRW)

Discusses World Wide Web development from a text-only technical documentation system to a multimedia information base distributed across the planet. Topics include Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Document Type Description (DTD), practical use of HTML, replacing HTML, and opportunities for software developers. Debates the future of the Web by…

Considers the psychology of multimedia. Topics include software development, including decisions about sound and image quality; theories of multiple intelligences; the psychology of learning; a model that includes semantics, semiotics, and synthetics; and the impact of media psychology on the use of multimedia for learning. (LRW)

Examines the relationship between instructional design (ID) and courseware development, especially for multimedia and hypermedia systems. Discusses ID models; external and internal reasons for the neglect of models; characteristics of models suitable for multimedia and hypermedia development; and models integrating those characteristics: Guided…

Discussion of learning technology standards focuses on acceptance and implementation, illustrated by SCORM specifications as applied to courseware development. Highlights include course structure; content hierarchy; multimedia assets; sharable content objects (SCOs); content aggregation; content packaging; categories of metadata; and content…

The model for hypermedia applications called Labyrinth allows: (1) the design of platform-independent hypermedia applications; (2) the categorization, generalization and abstraction of sparse unstructured heterogeneous information in multiple and interconnected levels; (3) the creation of personal views in multiuser hyperdocuments for both groups…

Discusses copyright considerations in multimedia development, and provides a checklist for teachers and students based on the United States House of Representative's "Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia" (1996) and the Association for Computing Machinery's "Interim Copyright Policies." Describes three copyright use…

Presents a guide to multimedia production staffing. Discussion includes understanding the market (profit and loss), the management and production teams, costs, salaries and budgets, the preproduction phase, the production and design phase, staff cooperation, work assignments, media-specific professionals, and quality control. Sample staffing costs…

Describes MultiTool, a new programming shell for use in developing multimedia education and training applications with microcomputer-based software and videodisk-based images. Examines the objectives of the system and its limitations, analysis and design of a courseware module, and implementation details. (LZ)

Describes Design Builder, interactive multimedia software that was developed to enable undergraduate engineers to experience working in a concurrent environment without direct and specialized teaching-staff support, and to provide an interactive and intelligent simulation environment from which users may develop a culture that introduces…

Describes the use of object technology for the development of information management systems. Notes the benefits of modelling complex real-world systems and the increases in productivity leading to flexible, reusable, and maintainable software. Discusses problems, support for multimedia data types, and storage capabilities. (AEF)

Understanding how to include interactivity when designing multimedia-based training (MBT) storyboards is a major key for a successful MBT. Discusses the basic formats of interactions and when to use each format. Describes how to storyboard and areas to address, including: the display area, prompts, branching, programming and graphics notes,…

A study involving interviews with experienced educational multimedia developers examined multimedia production, professional roles and responsibilities, factors contributing to successful multimedia development, production tips and techniques from practitioners, and hardware and software. Article discusses implications of the findings and makes…