Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach that has been used successfully for over 30 years and continues to gain acceptance in multiple disciplines. It is an instructional (and curricular) learner-centered approach that empowers learners to conduct research, integrate theory and practice, and apply knowledge and skills to develop…

The effectiveness of two approaches used by the Ventura-Santa Barbara County (California) School Resource Network to meet district-wide staff development needs is evaluated in this report. A new inservice training method, characterized by facilitation teams working within schools on site-specific needs, is contrasted to a district-wide topical…

To determine whether student achievement could be improved by matching cognitive style to instructional mode, a study was undertaken with 184 high school sophomores and juniors. Students were tested for reading and listening ability and preference and assigned to instruction based on reading and audio presentations. Ability was also tested.…

The focus of this research paper is on the role of teachers and the teaching strategies used in classrooms. The premise is that teachers are now realizing that they need to reach beyond traditional ways of teaching in order to assist their students in acquiring a deeper understanding of the topics being studied while developing critical thinking…

Describes a study of four methods used to instruct college students on searching PsycLIT on CD-ROM: (1) lecture/demonstration; (2) lecture/demonstration using a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel; (3) video; and (4) a computer-based tutorial. Performance data are analyzed, and factors to consider when developing a CD-ROM bibliographic instruction…

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in math achievement of students taught in an interactive television (ITV) class setting with the instructor present (host site), students receiving instruction via television at an off-campus location (remote site), and students taught in a traditional classroom setting. The…

In recent years, great emphasis has been placed on providing all students access to the general education curriculum (e.g., Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, No Child Left Behind Act). Given the diversity found among today's student population, both general and special education teachers struggle to find methodologies that enhance the…

Many university business schools have an instructor-led course introducing computer software application packages. This course is often required for all undergraduates and is a prerequisite to other courses, such as accounting, finance, marketing, and operations management. Knowledge and skills gained in this course should enable students not only…

The usefulness of paced auditory presentation combined with simultaneous visual presentation of lesson material was examined as a technique of improving reading skills in the educable mentally handicapped. A 30-day instructional period involved four groups of students (IQ's 58 to 86, ages 12-11 to 17-11). The groups were as follow: a machine audio…

The goals at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) for preparation of pre-service teacher educators in educational media and technology include the development of pedagogical ability as well as technical knowledge and skills. Pedagogically, EMU faculty adopted the goal of teaching the students to use technology to facilitate a constructivist approach…

This paper describes the University of Montana's efforts in migrating an undergraduate instructional media course from a traditional stand-and-deliver model to a World Wide Web-based electronic classroom. The rationale is presented, including the background for the decision making move and a description of similarities and differences of both…

This study addressed the need for empirical tests of the global instructional design (ID) model as a toolkit for classroom teachers in authentic settings; and the performance improvement challenge of finding effective, efficient methods of professional development for preparing graduate assistants to teach. Participants were eighteen teaching…

This research used three groups in a quasi-experimental approach to assess the combined impact of teacher teaming and computer technology on student grade point averages (GPAs). Ninth-grade students' academic achievement in each of four different subject areas (algebra, biology, world cultures, and English) was studied. Two separate treatments…

In fall 1997, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) provided Science and Technology in Society, a university general studies science literacy course, to advanced placement high school students at three local high schools, using a combination of live video presentations and World Wide Web (WWW) courseware. A total of 26 high school students…

Research funded by the Flexible Learning Advisory Group during 2000-2002 on issues related to online learning and delivery in vocational education and training in Australia was consolidated. Key findings included the following: (1) most students who experienced online learning did so in a conventional class, using face-to-face and other strategies…