Examines GTE (Generic Tutoring Environment) from an authoring perspective, describes how GTE may be used to create courseware, and reviews potential difficulties that authors face when using such a tool. Summarizes two studies that investigated how authors used GTE and concludes that GTE designs are difficult for authors to test and evaluate.…

The MEDA (Methodologie d'Evaluation des Didacticiels pour les Adultes) tool is a generic instrument to evaluate training courseware. It was developed for software designers to improve products, for instructors to select appropriate courseware, and for distributors and consultants to match software to client needs. Describes software evaluation…

Discussion of the Instructional Systems Development (ISD) model for developing instructional materials focuses on a computer program that integrates the tasks of course mapping, flowcharting, storyboarding, screen layout, and testing for courseware development. Authoring is practically eliminated, resulting in a significant time savings.…

Provides an account of the design of the Lesson Planning System, a hypermedia performance support system (PSS) predicated on task performance to support novice teacher-education students in lesson planning. Reports on an initial research study to investigate the effectiveness of the software and discusses the role of PSSs in teacher education.…

Testing and evaluation are important components of effective instructional software development. Many evaluation approaches today are multifaceted, employing a combination of methodologies and multiple data collection techniques. In this paper, several approaches to evaluation are discussed. Computerized tracking systems, videotape recording…

Explains the University of Minnesota Learning Software Design Competition, focusing on its goals and emphasis on innovation. Describes the review process to evaluate and judge the software, lists the winners, identifies a new class of educational software, and outlines plans for future competitions. (Author/LRW)

Identifies critical questions with respect to the evaluation process in the design, development and use of courseware. Argues that certain fundamental difficulties in quantifying and judging effectiveness and learning outcomes might lead one to abandon formal evaluation; awareness of those difficulties is important for developers and teachers…

The usability of Instructional Multimedia (IMM) applications is vital for their success and for the satisfaction of their users, as the confusion resulting from using poorly designed programs can be particularly detrimental to learning performance. A number of approaches for expert-based evaluation of IMM have been proposed during the past few…

This research, performed during 1998 and 1999, had as its purpose the development and validation of a course/instructor evaluation instrument specifically for use with graduate and undergraduate courses delivered online via the World Wide Web. The primary goal of the study was to develop an instrument that would collect valid perception data from…

Discusses advancements in multimedia technology, and presents a design model for managing interactive multimedia courseware production that includes five phases: analysis, development, production, evaluation, and implementation. Five examples of interactive multimedia courseware are described. (Author/LRW)

Describes Hyper Apuntes, an interactive learning environment developed at the University Carlos III of Madrid which teaches students the basic concepts of computer programming. Discusses results of an evaluation of the courseware that assessed its usability and utility and collected suggestions for improving the system. (Author/LRW)

PLUS, an authoring system designed to develop cross-platform courseware for different computer types, was evaluated for its portability (ability to run on multiple platforms without adjustment). The procedures and computer equipment used are described, and results are presented. It is concluded that PLUS produces highly portable programs. (MSE)

Explains the function of formative evaluation and the evaluation techniques that can be used in the various stages of educational computing research and development. Topics include computer software design; selecting evaluation standards; and a framework for formative evaluation, including theoretical models, expert consultation, and field…

Describes an integrated authoring environment, AIDA ("Ambiente Integrado de Desenvolvimento de Aplicacoes educacionais"), that was developed at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) for educational software. Highlights include the design module, a prototyping tool that allows for multimedia, simulations, and modularity; execution module;…

Reviews strengths and weaknesses of check lists for the evaluation of computer software and outlines consequences for their practical application. Suggests an approach based on an instructional design model and a comprehensive framework to cope with problems of validity and predictive power of software evaluation. Discusses prospects of the…