It is one thing to produce an innovative, construct-based assessment task; it's another to produce 10 a year that are comparable in difficulty, measure the same competencies, are free of differential item functioning, and can be scaled and equated. These challenges contributed to the failure of the performance (or authentic) assessment movement of…

Michael W. Allen, the Chairman and CEO of Allen Interactions, is an architect of interactive multimedia learning and is recognized for his many insights, inventions, and presentations. With over 50 years of experience in e-learning, both in academic and corporate settings, he is known for his role in creating Authorware and overseeing the work of…

Despite the author's initial skepticism, a classroom set of iPads has reinforced a student-directed approach to writing instruction, while also supporting an inclusive classroom. Using the iPads, students guide their writing process with access to the learning management system, electronic information resources, and an online text editor. Students…

The development of both the materials for an intermediate-level hybrid German writing course and the software in a virtual learning environment for the course may be viewed as activity systems. Viewing the individual components of each system as interrelated enables us to conceptualize the complexities of the development process, which goes well…

Approximately 15 states are changing their policies to give school districts more flexibility in acquiring content. They have changed laws or policies or have bills pending in state legislatures to redefine "textbooks". Most of those changes are similar to the approach Indiana took in its new law: a "textbook" is not only a…

Solutions to concern over computer software copyright infringement include seeking a licensing agreement with the software publisher or negotiating with a supplier for discounts on multiple copies of a program. The best sourcebook for guidance is "Software Quality and Copyright: Issues in Computer-Assisted Instruction," by Virginia Helm. (DCS)

Factors to consider when selecting software include (1) current use in business, (2) curriculum needs, (3) availability, and (4) cost. Evaluation criteria include (1) copyright, (2) documentation, (3) compatibility, (4) vendor support, and (5) ease of use. (JOW)

Discusses the importance of accurate graphic presentation and describes graphs available on "LabQuest" computer software. Highlights include graphing conventions; prerequisites for computer graphing; bar graphs; pie graphs; stacked bar graphs; line graphs; x/y graphs; scatter graphs; box plots; stem and leaf graphs; best fit graphs; and…

The author submits that the question has changed from "What does it do?" to "How can I use this thing in my teaching?" He argues that teachers need time, training, and access to information about software and how it relates to the curriculum. (MT)

The secondary accounting curriculum must be modified to include computers and software. Educators must be aware of the computer skills needed on the job and of the accounting software that is available. Software selection must be tailored to fit the curriculum and the time available. (JOW)

"Thinking Networks" a computer based (Apple II) reading writing curriculum is reviewed favorably for its holistic approach to reading, program sequence and presentation, educational intent and content, and teacher's guide. (DB)

Guidelines are offered to help special education teachers select appropriate software and integrate computer-assisted instruction (CAI) into existing curricula. (JW)

Outlines how the National Education Association's Educational Computer Service program for evaluation of educational software is run, and responds to critics of the program. (MD)

Describes the construction of a model of computer-assisted instruction using a qualitative block diagram based on general systems theory (GST) as a framework. Subject matter representation is discussed, and appendices include system variables and system equations of the GST model, as well as an example of developing flexible courseware. (Contains…

Responds to a previous article that discusses the application of instructional technology to second language instruction. The suggestion is made that there is a genuine need for language educators to become informed about and instructed in the use of the available foreign language instructional hardware and software. (JL)