This article presents the authors' response on the two commentators' (Fred Davidson and Charles Alderson) reviews of the 2009 Special Issue of "Language Assessment Quarterly" on "Cognitive Diagnosis and Q-matrices in Language Assessment." The Special Issue represents several years of research work on cognitive diagnosis approaches (CDA) carried…

Writings about educational systems can be broken into four approaches (dimensions), by which authors limit and create the conceptual schemes on which they base their work. Original work may be improved by an author's attending to the specific writing requirements of each dimension of educational composition. In the first dimension, papers are…

Conceptual and methodological problems inherent in Aptitude Treatment Interaction (ATI) research, coupled with the impracticality of its application, call into question its use as a design model. For these reasons, ATI should be de-emphasized as an instructional design model and attention should be refocused on the structure of content and the…

Reviews the literature on multicultural education; argues that much of the existing literature addresses limited aspects. Provides a taxonomy by which to define the term, examines its use, and criticizes various approaches. The framework is helpful for educators concerned with articulating issues of multicultural education. (Author/CH)

This article examines two relevant features in the historical development of sexology, the body of knowledge upon which sex education is based: its depoliticization of sexuality and its attempts to ground itself as scientific. Also examined are the sexual politics of sexology, via a content analysis of several college texts. (IAH)

Discussion of the role of the information industry, particularly publishers, focuses on seven models that are used to illustrate problems in the industry. Rule structures are presented concerning content areas, the use of technology, information markets, research behavior, communications, governmental issues, and the law. (LRW)

Distinguishes between the process and products of science and describes the role of each in Instructional Development (ID). The observe, hypothesize, test components of the scientific process are examined as they apply to front-end analysis, instructional strategy description, and formative evaluation stages used in ID models. Thirty-four…

Compares the existing library standards of the seven higher education regional accreditation commissions with performance measures identified through library literature and expert advice from the field. A model set of regional accreditation library standards that encompasses qualitative standards for accreditation purposes and suggested…

Discusses teaching packages, which contain a variety of media resources, and how they can be evaluated through a surrogate teacher model. Evaluation strategies are reviewed, including content analysis, field tests, and pupil reports; the evaluation report is described; and use of this strategy in the United Kingdom is discussed. (Contains 30…

Describes a technology of text display that can help to make learning from text more effective. Topics discussed include the effect of text displays on the ways learners process information; implications of these effects for instructional design; and how text displays join with text content to help with verbal, experiential, and visual processing.…

Description of computer-based simulations focuses on the instructional functions of simulations and phases in the learning processes that should be activated by educational simulations. Highlights include a general model for simulation design; degree of learner control; complexity of the content; the role of the learner; and motivational…

Presents a model for the evaluation and selection of instructional software packages for microcomputers by school librarians and media specialists. Types of educational applications for microcomputers, the analysis of printed documentation decribing instructional software, content analysis, default analysis, operant analysis, and access time are…

Discusses three major areas in which cognitive psychology and educational technology are affecting instructional design (ID) theory: (1) analysis of information, including content analysis and task analysis; (2) the means of evaluating learners; and (3) linking learning theory with specific instructional strategies through an integrated…

Though distance education can be a different educational experience from more traditional classroom instruction, it is, nonetheless, founded in instructional systems design (ISD). As such, the creation of effective distance courses should be based on a theoretical model that takes into account considerations specific to distributed learning…

The article discusses the provisions and intent of Title II of the Education Amendments Act of 1976 relating to job placement and employer satisfaction. In evaluating the success of vocational education programs student and employer follow-up data will play an important part. (MF)