E-learning promises to reach a more heterogeneous student body comprised of non-traditional learners. As educational institutions reach out to new students, serious concern must be paid to cultural concerns and individual differences. Learning objects provide a framework to think about localizing educational content. The authors provide an…

The notion of using games in education is as old as games themselves. In addition, the massive market opened by the digital games industry has caused great interest regarding their specific potential in education. However, this interest is sometimes thwarted by the resistance of traditional educational settings toward technology-enhanced learning…

This paper reports on work by a team from Wales, supported by UNESCO Cymru-Wales, to develop a distance learning module for Tanzanian clinical officers (COs) on the syndromic management and counselling of sexually transmissible infection (STI) and HIV patients. Preparation included documentary analysis and a questionnaire survey to ascertain COs'…

Those involved in training know that creating instructional materials can become a tedious, repetitive process. They also know that business conditions often require training interventions to be delivered in ways that are not ideally structured or timed. This article examines the notion that learning objects can be reused and adapted for…

Currently, e-learning systems are mainly web-based applications and tackle a wide range of users all over the world. Fitting learners' needs is considered as a key issue to guaranty the success of these systems. Many researches work on providing adaptive systems. Nevertheless, evaluation of the adaptivity is still in an exploratory phase.…

Discusses the development of instructional technology standards. Topics include development efforts for electronic learning standards; SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model), including accessibility, interoperability, durability, and reusability; electronic learning standards at Brigham Young University (Utah); instructional design and…

Describes a framework to support an object-oriented approach to performance analysis and instructional design that includes collaboration, automation, visual modeling, and reusable Web-based repositories of analysis knowledge. Relates the need for a new framework to the increasing concern with the cost effectiveness of student and employee…

Discusses the conversion of existing instructional materials for electronic learning and describes a retooled instructional systems design (ISD) model that assumes the Web is the primary delivery media while still considering analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation, and revision. (Author/LRW)

The design team approach to the development of computer based learning (CBL) courseware relies heavily on the effective communication between different members of the team, including up-to-date paperwork and documentation. This is important for the accurate and efficient overall coordination of the courseware design, and for future maintenance of…

Discusses repurposing content for computer-assisted instruction. Topics addressed include cost reduction; cost effectiveness; instructional quality and consistency; design issues; database design, including organizing information for repurposing and the use of courseware; and examples derived from multimedia and hypermedia applications. (LRW)

Considers the question of whether instructional methods are replaceable or interchangeable. Topics discussed include the influence of external events on learning and cognitive processes, media variables, linking instructional design to research on learning from instruction, construct validity, and an example of adequate instructional design and…

Explains reusable electronic learning objects (ELOs) that are stored in a database and discusses the practical application of creating and reusing ELOs at Royal Roads University (Canada). Highlights include ELOs and the instructional design of online courses; and examples of using templates to develop interactive ELOs. (Author/LRW)

Materials developed for a World Wide Web class, used in the regular classroom, improved classroom delivery significantly. A combination of Web material and classroom lecture may be the ideal combination for some subjects. This paper shows how some of the Web tools can be used to the teacher's advantage in the regular classroom. University support…

Discussion of online learning and standards for web-based and computer-based courseware focuses on learning objects, defined here as small, stand-alone units of instruction that can be tagged with descriptors and stored for reuse in various instructional contexts. Presents principles of learning object design and guidelines for assuring that…

Places three interrelated trends in online learning (reusable learning objects, blended learning, and instructional design) within the context of schools. Highlights include the need for collaboration and cooperation among schools; learning management systems; acquainting teachers with instructional design principles; redefining the roles of…