Online systems have come to be heavily used in education, particularly for online learning and collecting information not otherwise readily available. Most e-learning systems, including interactive learning systems, have been designed to "push" course materials to students but rarely to "collect" or "pull" ideas from them. The interactive…

The 22-campus California State University (CSU) system recently sponsored an online faculty development institute to help college instructors learn how to create pedagogically sound online instruction. The Tools, Templates, and Training (T3) workshop, which is now available to interested faculty and institutions throughout the world, was designed…

The original PLATO music concept was to replace the human performer in the feedback process, wherein the composer specifies an action and monitors the outcome, with a computer-controlled device. The first device of this type is known as the Gooch Synthetic Woodwind (GSW), which attempted to provide some of the features needed in an interactive,…

Reports on a survey of 42 post-secondary teachers about online instructional methods and strategies. The results are discussed in terms of Yelon's instructional principles: meaningfulness, prerequisites, open communication, organized essential ideas, learning aids, novelty, modeling, active appropriate practice, pleasant conditions and…

This paper outlines design problems and other instructional delivery issues that need to be addressed by potential on-line program designers, and it suggests some possible solutions to these problems. The first issue was transforming a traditional, three-credit course in a developing student-centered curriculum into a course delivered through…

Describes the cognitive processes required to troubleshoot faults and describes an architecture based on that cognitive model for designing learning environments that engage novices in troubleshooting while supporting their construction of requisite knowledge. This model can be applied to different kinds of troubleshooting problems, enhancing the…

Instructional syntax analysis is one approach to evaluating how a technology-based training course will interact with the learner. By plotting fluctuations in engagement and feedback levels over time, general level of interactivity in a course can be analyzed. Basic principles of instructional syntax analysis are described, with an example of how…

Presents 4 guiding concepts--organization, communication, collaboration, and enculturation--and 10 related principles for supporting instructors as they develop online courses. The principles are described using examples from the authors' experience as faculty development specialists. Principles focus on technical, pedagogical, and production…

In their eight years of involvement in Computer Assisted Learning, the Division of Education Research Services has assisted many authors in developing their courseware. Whether the courseware has been a short half hour module or a large course involving over a hundred hours of student time, there have been many common problems. A major objective…

This article proposes a categorization model for online distance education environments, based on two different aspects: interaction and content. The proposed categorization, which was based on the experience acquired in developing, implementing, and operating different remote training courses, is aimed at providing evidence to help educational…

Design of feedback in an online workshop is considered from the perspective of legitimate peripheral participation. A tool for gathering and reporting feedback in an online workshop was developed and tested in the context of ongoing practice. Social and software design issues are considered together. Discussion includes: feedback and online…

Elements of computer use in teaching are explored. They include equipment expense; availability of quality software; development of interactive instruction; use of graphics, color, flashing, and sound; learner response; and feedback. (CT)

Describes an experiment that looked at how adult learners made use of their Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI[R]), a personality assessment tool, type to cope with the challenges of learning in an online environment. Presents results of the experiment, and draws tentative conclusions. Provides notes related to the four psychological dimensions of…

Discusses essential elements of effective distance education using the World Wide Web, foremost of which is good instructional design. (PKP)

Carnegie Mellon Online has been used to deliver several university courses to thousands of students at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) over the last 2 years. This paper describes the experiences gained from redesigning an introductory art history course using Carnegie Mellon Online to deliver supplemental course content. The…