Discusses the need for dialog in distance education programs, based on the results of empirical research. Highlights include dialog and the construction of meaning; dialog and text design; student characteristics and preferences for dialog; dialog through tutorial support; and the relationship between autonomy, learner characteristics, materials…

Discusses how to design interactive video materials for adult learners. Highlights include capabilities of interactive video; characteristics of adult learners; allowing adults to set their own goals; establishing a need to know; linking new information to prior knowledge; and individual responsibility for learning.(LRW)

Discusses what it is about home learning that creates a need for study skills improvement and the study skills required for successful home learning (information processing and personal skills, and support strategies). The role and responsibilities of educational technologists in helping learners to acquire effective study skills are considered.…

The development of a curriculum for American Indian students should address the issues of traditional skills, competencies, and knowledge of cultural community. Instructional elements involved in curriculum development include materials, teaching techniques, and learner characteristics. Suggestions for use in development of culturally appropriate…

Discusses factors that influence learners' preconceptions of television, the mental effort they invest in processing a video-based lesson, and their achievement. The effects on mental effort and achievement of characteristics of media, the task, and the learners are addressed; and recommendations for future research are offered. (Contains 42…

Steps used in the formative evaluation of a project designed to incorporate self-instructional materials in an introductory zoology course included techniques which: (1) involved colleagues in the material development; (2) assessed relevant student characteristics, expectations, and evaluations; and (3) were used in the examinations. (MBR)

Provides an overview of the potential of hypermedia as an instructional medium and discusses research that has investigated learning outcomes. Discusses instructional design considerations to guide developers and designers of hypermedia systems, including learner characteristics and elements of content presentation such as text structure,…

Describes three learner assessment strategies and their possible effects on text design strategies for distance education materials. Prior knowledge, reading ability and text readability, and learning styles are examined; learner characteristics and potential instructional strategies are discussed; and the relationship of learning styles to…

Reviews Wilkins' approach to curriculum design as presented in his "Notional Syllabuses." Discusses three components of the language teaching-language learning process: the semantic, the functional, and the formal component, showing how Wilkins' analytic approach implies a semantic rather than a grammatical syllabus, based on learners'…

This course text outlines the objectives and content for a professional continuing education course on teaching skills for health science librarians. It is intended for librarians planning to teach as peer instructors in library science continuing education, instructors or internship mentors in graduate library school education,…

This final report describes the activities and accomplishments of a 3-year project to enhance the knowledge and skills of special and general educators as well as parents of children having attention deficit disorder through the development of training materials and workshops. Over 15 professional development activities on the topic of attention…

This document is a working paper from Cyberstep, a 3-year project during which five literacy service innovators are collaborating to identify practices for educating English-as-a-second-language learners and adults functioning at low literacy levels, extend the use of technology to facilitate learning, and provide practical tools for educators.…

This collection of writings on the history and status of English language teaching (ELT) in China includes the following essays: "Historical Background" (Y. F. Dzau); "How English is Taught in Tertiary Educational Institutions" (Dzau); "Teaching English in Chinese Secondary Schools" (Yu Yining); "Teachers,…