There are inevitable challenges standing in the way of the success of any approach to Instructional Design. Some are being faced up to. Some are not. Not least among them is the absence of empirically established principles undergirding Instructional Design prescriptions. The challenge it poses is to their reliability and validity. Nothing that…

Describes a study at Florida State University that examined how Gagne's learning theory and events of instruction described and supported learning in the cooperative learning environment of a fourth grade classroom. Examples of instructional events and appropriate actions are given, and it is reported that Gagne's theories support cooperative…

Defines thematic teaching, also known as interdisciplinary or authentic instruction, as representing cross-disciplinary programs which integrate cognitive, affective, and psychomotor outcomes. Highlights include integrating thematic teaching into elementary school classrooms, cognitive and social learning theories, motivation, cooperative…

Discusses the process of designing a series of case-based interactive videodiscs to be used within a constructivist learning environment for elementary school science. Topics include assumptions about learners and learning; implications for learning materials; and implications for the instructional design process, including process-based versus…

How learning centers can transform classrooms into interesting, vital environments. (HB)

Introduces an instructional approach referred to as collaborative project-based learning and describes a new Web-based technology, "ALiVE" designed to support this instructional approach. Discusses information resources management; scaffolding with templates; communication; collaboration; coordination; and technological overhead.…

Examines what children learn from using educational technology in an informal, collaborative environment. Explores how mastering educational computer programs can promote problem-solving transfer. Studies at three after-school computer clubs reveal children who use educational software may learn content knowledge about computer literacy,…

Describes a program designed to provide students with individualized spelling remediation using imitation and modeling techniques. (Author)

A discussion of the computer "glass box", which is a bold new approach to teaching children concepts using A Programing Language. (Author)

Reports on the Ecole Moderne, a French educational reform movement that began in the 1920s that views technology as a tool. Through a review of the literature, interviews with leaders of the Freinet movement, and observations of Freinet classrooms in France, the impact of modern technology on the Ecole Moderne movement and implications for…

Describes the use of distance-learning technology for an economics course for second graders. Highlights include obstacles to effective distance education, becoming familiar with video technology, the use of visual learning materials, student-teacher interaction, the need for an adult facilitator, and the instructional sequence used in each…

Provides a detailed look at combination of factors contributing to the success of the elementary science television programs of Japan, including production facilities, research, instructional approach, production techniques, and promotion. It is suggested that this series could serve as a model for the development of televised instruction in…

Describes a series of studies of fourth graders that investigated the cueing effectiveness of seven variables for use with visual information. Contrasting cueing strategies that were tested are described, cueing effects on average and below average learners are discussed, and tentative guidelines for instructional designers are suggested. (35…

Describes a research study on the effects of word processing use in teaching writing to four fifth-grade boys in a special education program, and reviews other studies on word processing use with learning disabled students. It was concluded that word processing offers great promise to the special needs student. (MBR)

Teachers and teachers' aides in large midwestern school district who teach learning disabled and mentally and emotionally disabled students were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward using computers and feelings about computers and educational computing. Results indicate prior computing experience affects attitudes and facilitates…