Provides design options for making Web sites more accessible to blind or visually impaired users. Highlights include valid alt-tags on graphics; helpful link text; cascading style sheets (CSSs) to separate content from page structure; descriptive links to tell what a significant graphic is about; and not using text only as a valid alternative.…

Reviews evaluation standards that are used to assess the quality of projected graphical displays, and discusses their use in evaluating graphs created with computer graphing programs. Design standards for projected graphs are explained, and examples of three types of graphs are shown. (four references) (LRW)

Discussion of Web page design covers balancing text and graphics; pixels; graphic file formats; dithering; and caching. (LRW)

Discusses fonts as well as design considerations that should be reviewed when designing World Wide Web pages and sites to make them easier for clients to use and easier to maintain. Also discusses the simplicity of names; organization of pages, folders, and files; and sites to help build Web sites. (LRW)

Presents tips on how to create instructional Web sites with accessibility in mind and how to easily check existing sites for accessibility, based on a study of inaccessible Web-based components at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Provides a list of Web sites focusing on accessibility. (AEF)

Outlines several factors to be considered by teachers when designing text displays for computer assisted instruction. Types of frames--introductory, pretesting, teaching/testing, practice, criterion testing, and rule-example--are defined and discussed to aid developers in organizing a computer assisted instruction lesson. (MBR)

Presents a strategy for designing course materials for use in multiple digital formats. Discusses initial design--planning for multiple media, instructional contexts, development strategies; designing core information--blocked text design, systematic development; porting information to other digital contexts; and revision and storage. Also…

This description of an ideal school computer laboratory focuses on physical characteristics and includes guidelines for floors, walls, ceilings, doors, wiring, seating configurations, and furniture. (LRW)

Explores issues associated with developing Web sites for large organizations based on experiences at AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology). Topics include examining the audience, establishing guidelines, design issues, user expectations, Web site load time, legibility, navigation issues, and recommendations for future…

Proposes a framework for designers and teachers to research better design methodologies for distance education and to choose the most appropriate technologies and design better instructional tasks. Presents a scenario in which inherent characteristics of technologies are merged with task characteristics to create positive and powerful educational…

Discusses rules for Web page design: consider audiences' Internet skills and equipment; know your content; outline the material; map or sketch the site; be consistent; regulate size of graphics to control download time; place eye catching material in the first 300 pixels; moderate use of color to control file size and bandwidth; include a…

Describes a mobile classroom presentation cart for multimedia technology that was designed and constructed at the University of Delaware's Instructional Technology Center. Design goals are discussed; the physical layout is explained; equipment choices are described, including computer, audio system, and projection system; and future development is…

Describes a prototype for a World Wide Web site that supports as many student and instructor needs as possible and was developed for a graduate course on instructional design. Topics include roles of the instructor and of the webmaster, student perspectives, technical design issues, user interface, and graphics. (LRW)

Presents an annotated review of human factors literature that discusses computerized environments. Topics discussed include the application of office automation practices to educational environments; video display terminal (VDT) workstations; health and safety hazards; planning educational facilities; ergonomics in computerized offices; and…

Explores design considerations for a functional microcomputer lab, including ergonomics and furnishings; access for the disabled; the use of other media; hardware security; and software security, including virus protection. A summary paragraph comments on the role of planning and forecasting. A bibliography of eight titles for further reading is…