Describes a study that investigated color combination preferences of three- to six-year-olds performing a simple perceptual task on a microcomputer screen. Comparisons with Swedish research are made, implications for the production of educational materials for young children are discussed, and suggestions for further research are made. (10…

Describes development of a program instituted at Paisley College of Technology (Scotland) which used microcomputers in undergraduate mathematics instruction. Discussion of the software production phase of this program and project objectives includes descriptions of the program's microcomputer network and one computer program which was developed.…

Suggests use of instructional theory to generate criteria for evaluating microcomputer courseware and describes one approach to its use. This approach identifies skills that the three courseware types--drill and practice, tutorial, and simulation--can teach, and then selects the instructional theory that most specifically addresses the identified…

Presents an instructional design model for software that was developed to increase the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction in the classroom. The importance of basing the design of instructional materials on valid learning theories is discussed, and efforts to increase the effectiveness of instructional software are described. (39…

A project was conducted to develop a model vocational marketing plan, strategy, curriculum, and camera-ready products appropriate for use by school districts throughout Washington state. Puget Sound area secondary vocational education directors were interviewed to gather information on the current status of vocational education marketing. Next,…

Instructional Design Expert (ID Expert) is a prototype instructional design expert system which supports the instructional design phase of instructional system development. Phase 2 of ID Expert was implemented using S.1 expert system language on the VAX computer. The user interface was text-based, consisting of a question/answer dialogue primarily…

Results of a national survey of teachers, authors, administrators, distributors, and publishers reveal their perceptions of current needs and opportunities for development of microcomputer courseware for foreign language instruction. The study, which consisted of a literature review, a database review, a series of seven workshops, and consultation…

This project, stemming from work started under the National Science Foundation grant "Development of a Television Computer Assisted Instruction (TVCAI) System" SER-7806412, called for the transfer to videodisc of some of the videotape materials developed under the grant. Three efforts were included in the proposal: design and development…

Discussion of the process involved in information seeking focuses on studies of high school students that were conducted to determine how mental models for a print encyclopedia are adapted to a full-text electronic encyclopedia. Three case studies are analyzed, and recommendations for designers of electronic encyclopedias and instructional…

This study examined the extent to which opportunities created by computer technology addresses the needs in school science and mathematics instruction. Information was gathered by obtaining descriptions of most available software; reviewing published software evaluations, grant-supported software development projects, and a broad selection of…

The purpose of this series of experiments was to examine two questions related to the effectiveness of computer assisted instruction (CAI). Can microcomputer modules teach effectively, and do they enhance learning when used as a supplement to traditional teaching methods? Part 1 of this report addresses the former question and part 2 addresses the…

Results of an investigation of the effectiveness of computer assisted instruction with learning disabled students in an elementary school indicate that computer assisted instruction increased students' mathematics skills. Twenty-one references are listed. (JJD)

Synthesizes the results of three case studies of middle school classrooms in which computer and video materials were used to teach topics in earth and space sciences through interactive simulations. Describes specific instances in which common current practice is problematic. Makes suggestions regarding improved design principles for such…

The goals of this study were to understand the expectations of both designers and teachers for the design and use of packages that integrate computer and television technologies, and to investigate the implementation of these packages in the classroom. Interviews were conducted with eight designers of "The Voyage of the Mimi" (MIMI), a…

This study investigated short term information retention of college biology students who used computer assisted instruction (CAI) with students who studied the same subject matter in printed form. An introductory computer program on photophosphorylation (the light reactions of photosynthesis) was written in Applesoft Basic for the Apple II…