Currently, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education does not conclusively demonstrate significant effects on learning. However, not all ICT usage models are designed to affect student outcomes. Therefore, to accurately study the impact of ICT, the concept of an educational programme supported by ICT must first be…

The trends and findings from a descriptive analysis of 25 years of research studies examining the effectiveness of technology to support the compositional writing of students with learning and academic disabilities are presented. A corpus of 85 applied research studies of writing technology effectiveness was identified from among 249 items in the…

Traditional modes of chemistry education in schools focus on imparting chemistry knowledge to students via instruction. Consequently, students often acquire the mistaken understanding that scientific knowledge comprises a fixed body of "proven" facts. They fail to comprehend that the construction of scientific understanding is a human…

This article reports the results of a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the suitability of 13 commercially available, authorized software programs for teaching reading and writing in the primary grades. These programs were assessed on interface design, content, instructional design, whether manufacturers' educational claims were supported…

This article reviews research on the achievement outcomes of three types of approaches to improving elementary mathematics: mathematics curricula, computer-assisted instruction (CAI), and instructional process programs. Study inclusion requirements included use of a randomized or matched control group, a study duration of at least 12 weeks, and…

Over the past several decades, a wider range of assessment strategies has gained prominence in classrooms, including complex assessment items such as individual or group projects, student journals and other creative writing tasks, graphic/artistic representations of knowledge, clinical interviews, student presentations and performances, peer- and…

This study provides information for higher education leaders that have or are considering conducting Computer Aided Design (CAD) instruction using student owned notebook computers. Survey data were collected during the first 8 years of a pilot program requiring engineering technology students at a four year public university to acquire a notebook…

As a manual for computer-assisted instruction lesson reviewers and as a resource for other interested PLATO personnel, this text describes the function of the lesson reviewer. The role of the lesson reviewer is discussed as an impartial examiner of the computer programing, the subject content, and the instructional design that constitute a…

Offers 10 suggestions to help teachers avoid the pitfalls encountered by unknowing software purchasers. Suggestions include checking for compatibility, determining objectives, testing for material sequence, and reading the documentation. (FL)

This article reviews research on the achievement outcomes of alternative approaches for struggling readers in grades K-5: One-to-one tutoring, small group tutorials, classroom instructional process approaches, and computer-assisted instruction. Study inclusion criteria included use of randomized or well-matched control groups, study duration of at…

This paper describes key issues in conducting impact evaluations of corporate eLearning and reports the results of a study that evaluated the impact (including return on investment) of an eLearning implementation by a large telecommunications company. The program was designed to "multi-skill" over 1,000 Customer Service Officers (CSOs)…

Describes and evaluates the various strategies employed by the Microelectronics Education Programme to provide training in computer-based learning to teachers in the United Kingdom. Suggestions for future strategies that focus on the child, the teacher, and the class are presented. (14 references) (CLB)

This Backgrounder Brief is an executive summary of "Measuring Success: How Will We Know When We Get There?," a component of CoSN's Essential Leadership Skills Series. It has been over twenty years and billions of dollars spent for educational technology since the first computers were put into schools, and educators are hearing increased demands…

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how an evaluation framework was developed and implemented in order to support goals of an e-learning university. The paper discusses the aim of assessment to support institution-wide e-learning goals, the benefits and challenges of this approach to assessing the development of content for e-learning, a…

Criteria for evaluating and selecting computer software programs are given, based on the author's research at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York). Specific attributes of programs which either motivate students or directly encourage learning are examined. Shortcomings of existing software are also noted. (PP)