In the conventional English as a Second Language (ESL) class-based learning environment, teachers use a fixed learning sequence and content for all students without considering the diverse needs of each individual. There is a great deal of diversity within and between classes. Hence, if students' learning outcomes are to be maximised, it is…

In instructional multimedia design, it is often recommended that text accompanying pictures be presented in a personalised style to promote learning. The superiority of personalised over formal text is may be explained using social agency theory (Mayer, 2005b), but it has not been investigated empirically whether such effects are valid in…

Distance education has dramatically increased the educational opportunities for underserved populations. This is evidenced by the fairly recent proliferation and success of online universities, and it is happening in spite of criticism of e-learning and online degree programs among academia and the popular press. As a result, many institutions,…

As technology evolves, so does its impact on people's lives. These changes clearly affect people's daily activities, but how might they also impact education, teachers, and the lives of students with disabilities? This article focuses on technological innovations and their potential implications for students and teachers in schools. This article…

Technology's impact on the delivery of health care mandates that nursing faculty use all technologies at their disposal to better prepare students to work in technology-infused health care environments. Essential components of an infrastructure to grow technology-infused nursing education include a skilled team comprised of tech-savvy faculty and…

With the shift in numbers between Canadian-born students in the university classroom and the increased number of international students, it is a primary concern for instructors and instructional designers to know and understand learner characteristics in order to create effective instructional messages and materials. Recognizing how culture might…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the advantages of using intelligent agents to facilitate the location and customization of appropriate e-learning resources and to foster collaboration in e-learning environments. Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes an e-learning environment that can be used to provide customized…

People have unique ways of learning, which may greatly affect the learning process and, therefore, its outcome. In order to be effective, e-learning systems should be capable of adapting the content of courses to the individual characteristics of students. In this regard, some educational systems have proposed the use of questionnaires for…

Presents a review of the basic foundations and recent challenges of the main instructional design traditions. Topics include learner characteristics; learner-controlled instruction; learning environments; the role of instructional interventions; computer-based instruction and other new technologies; and new theories of learning and design.…

Describes an alternative approach to evaluation of computer assisted language learning software in the form of a flexible three-component framework. The approach targets operational description, teacher fit, and learner fit, from which teachers can develop their own evaluation procedures. (Author/CB)

Examines the matter of authenticating distant student identities, and discusses several strategies including: proctored exams; digital signatures; getting to know the online student; and databases and online forums that yield student background information. (AEF)

Discusses theories, practices, and research basics of computer and Internet use in education. Highlights include a conceptual framework; distance learning; online education; challenges for teachers and students; demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of users; just in time learning; and interactivity. (Author/LRW)

Describes an instruction system intended to assist students in improving their academic performance. Methods increase awareness of characteristics possessed by academically successful and unsuccessful students, as well as provide effective study skills information. Background, development, and use of the system are described. (RC)

Presents a methodology for the development of educational software for use in secondary education based on the characteristics of the students and the curricular objectives. Topics discussed include desirable features of educational software and the engineering of educational software, including its interdisciplinary nature. (Contains 10…

Presents a model of a computer writing skill consisting of four stages of development: (1) writing easier; (2) writing more; (3) writing differently; and (4) writing better. This process represents the evolution of a natural computer-based writing approach under favorable conditions regarding the starting state of the user and a range of…