The first of two articles designed to provide guidelines for the instructional development phase of instructional systems development focuses on general instructional methods supporting all instructional tasks. Teaching methods that support selective attention, processing in working memory, and connecting in long-term memory are described and…

Suggests sources for reviews of available software, and provides seven guidelines for selecting appropriate software: know your objectives; check on software compatibility and available support; consider brand names first; check evaluations, copying restrictions, and documentation. Suggestions for taking care of software and a discussion of word…

This guide discusses five common CAI author misconceptions and their consequences. Working backward in each instance to show how the difficulty might better have been approached at the onset, it attempts to map out essential decision points in lesson development. The decision points identified cover (1) choosing the best medium for the lesson, (2)…

Lists seven steps to help in making sound decisions when purchasing educational tutorial software. They include considering all possible options; ordering software on an approval basis; running programs from start to finish many times, focusing on a different aspect each time; and completing the software evaluation form that is provided. (MBR)

Selection of and search for appropriate instructional materials should begin while writing instructional objectives during the curriculum planning process. A five-phase system to help the teacher make selection decisions, in consultation with the school media specialist, is presented. (MF)

This manual outlines a general procedure for deciding whether or not a multimedia package should be adapted or repackaged to meet local needs, reviews both general and specific factors to be considered in repackaging materials, describes the process of repackaging, and outlines procedures for the try-out, evaluation, and renewal of repackaged…

Despite the fact that reviews of educational products for selection purposes usually have to be based on evidence less conclusive than formal evaluations, these reviews must be approached as thoughtfully and as rationally as possible. More fruitful results will come from review procedures in which the purpose of and criteria for the review are…

Focuses on potential values (for example, saving time and money and presenting high quality materials) of using packaged courses or programs for training. Examines some objections to prepackaged materials. Offers planning and decision-making suggestions for choosing suitable materials. Proposes questions for evaluating commercial programs. (CSS)

Discusses incremental decisions that need to be made when selecting a videodisc system and presents guidelines for moving through the learning and decision-making process. Guidelines cover understanding the technology, understanding the videodisc project process, composing the project team, establishing requirements and considering the budget, and…

These guidelines address the need for valid and reliable measures to aid in making decisions on teaching of braille and/or print to students with moderate to severe vision losses. After an introductory section, section 1 presents basic principles organized into the following categories: (1) learning media, (2) students who use the learning media,…