Reviews common approaches to instructional materials development used at distance education institutions with the team approach considered in some detail. Management of the team is emphasized, the process of change is discussed, and a model for adopting educational innovations--the Concerns Based Adoption Model--is explained. (12 references)…

Discusses the importance of involving experts and learners in the formative evaluation of instructional materials. A case study describing the evaluation of a filmstrip/audiotape program is presented, and the importance of gathering feedback from multiple sources before making revision decisions is emphasized. (Author/LRW)

Describes and compares formative evaluation approaches: expert review, developmental testing, three-stage model, learner verification and revision, and general approach to formative evaluation. Discussion of differences among approaches related to duration of try-out/revision cycle and recommendations for effective acquisition of data are…

Discusses the collaborative team approach to instructional design. Collaborative principles are explained, and a collaborative project between the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and the Edmonton Public Schools is described that resulted in an interactive videodisc that could be used for preservice and inservice teacher…

Discussion of the design and development of multimedia learning materials to foster sound pedagogy focuses on a set of 10 principles that reflect current beliefs about the processes and contexts of optimal learning, especially within multimedia environments. Highlights include motivation, prior knowledge, learner control, critical literacy, and…

Describes a systematic method for producing pictures to accompany textual instructional materials. The resulting instructional design model is then used in an attribute by treatment interaction study of post-secondary school students that was designed to investigate the role of analogical pictures in adult learners' acquisition of higher level…

Describes three learner assessment strategies and their possible effects on text design strategies for distance education materials. Prior knowledge, reading ability and text readability, and learning styles are examined; learner characteristics and potential instructional strategies are discussed; and the relationship of learning styles to…

Describes use of Canada's videotex system, Telidon, for instructional purposes and cites limitations in Telidon software and its high cost as reasons for the development and testing of an interactive microcomputer-based course authoring and presentation system called VITAL. VITAL's design is described and its implications for instructors are…

Discusses actual costs for developing independent study print courses for use in learning centers or for distance delivery, and presents a resource allocation guideline based on figures from Grant MacEwan Community College (Alberta). Topics discussed include the course writer/developer, clerical support, copyright clearance, instructional design,…

Describes study designed to determine the effectiveness of field dependence/independence as a student selection criterion for one-to-one formative evaluation of instructional materials. Hypotheses tested are discussed, the computer-assisted instructional material evaluated and revised is described, and suggestions for further research are given.…

Describes a computer-aided personalized system of instruction (CAPSI) and its implementations for both on-campus and off-campus teaching at the University of Manitoba. Highlights include electronic mail, student reactions, the use of data that are saved throughout the course, and future possibilities. (Author/LRW)