The introduction of the "Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum-Mathematics" in Australian preschools and primary schools has caused early childhood educators to reconsider what may be appropriate levels of mathematics knowledge to expect from children as they start school. This paper reports on initial data from an…

Failure rates in first year calculus courses are high in most post-secondary institutions across North America and other parts of the world. This Inukshuk-funded open education project involved the development of five stand-alone pre-calculus learning modules. The design and revision phases of this project occurred between the fall of 2007 and…

Education has long been regarded as the foundation stone of national growth and international competitiveness. In the last three decades national educational reforms to improve access to higher education qualifications, individual higher education institutions' aggressive national and international marketing initiatives and improved information…

This paper describes a computer assisted instruction (CAI) study skills program and reports the results of a study conducted to determine its effectiveness. The program consists of ten CAI study skills modules, a CAI study skills notebook, and a CAI study skills test. The modules address (1) managing time, (2) improving memory, (3) taking lecture…

This third in a series of edited transcripts based on a conference at Utah State University describes Merrill's Component Design Theory (CDT) and compares it to his earlier Component Display Theory. Topics discussed include concept structures, knowledge acquisition, components of an instructional design system, and a new CDT matrix. (10…

The first of two papers describes the techniques used at a school of nursing to develop 98 independent learning modules for an on-going, statewide, continuing education project designed to meet the needs of professional nurses practicing in the field. The paper focuses primarily on the administrative problems related to the project; e.g., test…

This project designed and developed a specialized student skill module for providing rudimentary time management skills, and implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of this skill module for reducing course completion times and promoting positive student attitudes in the context of a computer-based progress management system. Evaluation…

In spring 2004, more than 1,200 teachers and principals in Tennessee participated in online professional development as part of the state?s Reading First grant. The opportunity also allowed the state to investigate the possibility of using online professional development to help teachers meet high-quality teacher requirements. Staff at the…

The use of the Interpersonal Communication Inventory (ICI) with urban undergraduate social work students is described. ICI measures the patterns, characteristics, and styles of communication along the dimensions of: self-concept, listening, clarity of expression, coping with angry feelings, and self-disclosure. (Author/MLW)

An extensive evaluation was conducted of a training program on industrial safety that was designed to change employee attitudes and behaviors in relation to energy control and power lockout (ECPL), i.e., closing down an assembly line while completing diagnostic or repair tasks. The research question was aimed at determining the effects of entry…

Experiences with the COMIT system of computer assisted instruction are reviewed in relation to five evaluative criteria: effects on student learning, effects on student attitudes, effects on teachers, institutional effects, and extra-institutional effects. Conclusions are drawn concerning the possible future pedagogical role of the computer…

The authors examined a narrative approach that may lead to improvements as faculty develop their skills to use the internet for delivery of instruction. The design of this study relied on an interview process that empowered both researchers to create their own narratives as they constructed their concerns and motivations about online pedagogy. The…

An interactive multimedia instructional program was developed at Kansas State University to meet the need of rural social work students for specialized training in child welfare issues. The program consists of 10 multimedia interactive computer-based instructional modules that focus on child welfare issues in generalist social work practice. The…

Multimedia techniques allow one to present information using text, video, animations, and sound. "Infotech Interactive" is a CD-ROM multimedia product developed to enhance an introductory computing concepts course. The software includes the following module topics: (1) "Mouse Basics"; (2) "Data into Information"; (3)…

Due to the different rates of learning expressed by greatly differing students, a recent educational trend has developed that responds to different learner needs through the introduction of programed or individualized instruction. The consequence of the use of instructional packets is that the learners must frequently teach themselves while…