Examines the learning benefits of a learner-as-designer environment simulating a real-world multimedia production house and its impact on at-risk high school students. Students showed a significant growth in their value of intrinsic goals and achieved several critical design skills. The experience provided many students, who could not otherwise…

Computer programming is a domain of knowledge that is generally considered difficult by students, many of whom experience low levels of achievement and become disillusioned. This paper suggests that cognitive load theory needs to be taken into account when designing instructional materials for this domain. The cognitive load that is experienced by…

This report summarizes 219 educational technology research reviews and reports from 1990-1997, from both published and unpublished sources. The report provides software developers and publishers with research that will enable them to improve educational technology. It can also help educators make effective decisions as they attempt to incorporate…

Describes integrated learning systems (ILSs) and discusses issues facing school administrators when supervising teachers who are using these systems. Topics discussed include ILS impact on student achievement; use by regular as well as disadvantaged students; curriculum integration; research on varied-ability students; software development and…

This paper examines research studies of learner control in computer-based instruction (CBI) from 1987-1997. The review evaluates predictions and conclusions from previous literature reviews, in light of current research, and discusses the implications of recent findings for instructional development. Findings suggest that the positions that…

This study examined the effects of a prototype of motivationally-adaptive CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction), developed in accordance with the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) model of motivational design, on achievement, perceived motivation (both overall motivation and for each of the ARCS components), efficiency, and…

A study of 105 vocational school students assigned to different treatment levels (1, 3, and 5 segment chunks) found: (1) little difference among experimental treatments, (2) better performance for students above the 11th-grade reading level, and (3) interaction between chunking level and reading level. Results suggest time and expense of designing…

Reports on studies that analyze the impact of microcomputers in schools on student achievement as compared to more traditional methods, and explores research that relates student achievement to software design, learner characteristics, and instructional decisions on technology implementation. (17 references) (MAB)

Describes a study of high school students that investigated the impact of embedding an instructional map into hypermedia courseware on student achievement. Treatment of experimental and control groups is described, results of pretests and posttests are compared, and implications for software designers and teachers are suggested. (Contains 23…

One recent goal of the British Higher Education Funding Council has been to find ways to use technology to cope with the increasing size and diversity of the student population. A development team at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) received a grant to investigate how technology might be used to identify and help students put at risk by…

Describes a computer program for arithmetic in which the use of the operationalized cognitive apprenticeship methods was studied together with effects of modelling and coaching on student performance. Results showed that adult basic education students make little use of optional materials in a computer program. (Author/JKP)

Discussion of the portability of educational software focuses on the software design and development process. Topics discussed include levels of portability; the user-computer dialog; software engineering principles; design techniques for student performance records; techniques of courseware programing; and suggestions for further research and…

Reports the preliminary results of a research project that investigated the phenomenon of disorientation in hypertexts with middle school students. Presents experiences in setting up a benchmark for measuring this phenomenon and lessons learned regarding measuring the performance of people using hypertext technology in an educational environment.…

Most computer-based training (CBT) research has ignored variables other than the software itself. Yet other factors can influence achievement. This study explores the impact of interaction between the student and instructor when students work CBT in pairs. Compared to an earlier study in which such interaction positively influenced achievement…

Based on literature and student input, six major concerns have been noted for student programming progress for the academic class and work environment. The areas of concern are module driver programming, program documentation, output design, data design, data validation; and reusable code. Each area has been analyzed and examined in the teaching…