When "software takes command", people take fright -- a reaction which frequently accompanies change or novelty. Their fears are understandable, but they also cloud people's view of the potentials that digital tools and digital media hold for society and especially educational contexts. Their fears also define societal debates and…

Computer-assisted learning is an approach which has been used widely to support people with autism spectrum disorders. Commercial and research-driven technologies continue to be produced at a rapid rate, particularly mobile device applications. However, the field lacks a consistent, evidence-based methodology for design, implementation and…

The Web-based e-learning can benefit from the modern multimedia tools combined with network capabilities to overcome traditional education. The objective of this paper is focused on e-training system development to improve performance of theoretical knowledge and providing ample opportunity for practical attainment of manual skills in virtual…

It is of course very difficult to accurately project important characteristics of the future state of any rapidly evolving field, and the field of authoring systems for computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is no exception. However, strong trends in evolving CAI systems of today would seem to indicate some important characteristics of the software…

For the thirty-eighth time, the Research and Theory Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Proceedings of AECT's Convention are published in two…

New technologies rather than educational principles and philosophies have tended to dictate the shape of development in the world of elearning. Giving educators an active and determining rather than a passive role in the development of learning systems is vital if e-learning is to realise its transformative potential in education in the 21st…

Reviews literature relating to educational courseware evaluation and the need for context-bound evaluations. Highlights include the promise of educational technology; implications for online learning; technological developments, including use of the Internet in education; comparing modes of delivery; examples of context-bound evaluations; and the…

Although the quality of educational software is increasing dramatically, the need for good instructional software far surpasses the supply. There are at present relatively few authors with the array of knowledge and skills necessary to produce high quality interactive instruction. In the absence of trained authors, much of the available software…

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)

Significant improvements in instructional design and in the development of classroom support materials, as well as the blurring of lines separating computer software, computer-interactive videodisc, CD-ROM, and other new technologies, are cited as the rationale for combining three topics covered by separate guidelines published in…

Description of new applications of digital optical disc storage technologies focuses on CD-ROM (Compact Disc--Read Only Memory); CD-I (Compact Disc--Interactive); and DV-I (Digital Video--Interactive). Features of each technology are described in the context of instructional design and educational technology, and the role of educational research…

Discussion of the development of distance education for instruction and training due to new technologies and software focuses on questions that need to be asked to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Highlights include institutional and organizational concerns; content design analyses; development issues; implementation; evaluation; management…

The Video Nova Authoring System (VNAS) was developed by computer programmers and instructional designers to provide noncomputer programmers with a tool to design interactive videodisc programs. VNAS allows the instructor complete design freedom, and although menu-driven, doesn't rely on preset lesson plans. Illustrations and sources for evaluation…

This special supplement to "Library Journal" and "School Library Journal" includes articles on technological dependency, promise of computers for reluctant readers, copyright and database downloading, access to neighborhood of Mister Rogers, library acquisitions, circulating personal computers, "microcomputeritis,"…

The evolution of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is examined, focusing on what has changed and what has not changed much during that time. A variety of changes are noted: the development of multimedia capabilities, color, animation, and technical improvement of audio and video quality; availability of databases, better fit between…