Considers the impact of mobile wireless technologies on Web-based Instruction and Training (WBI/T). Discusses the relevant technological infrastructure issues, content design and development issues, and differing modes of communication as they pertain to mobile wireless WBI/T, followed by a scenario of one possible WBI/T application. (Contains 12…

Each designer contributing to this special issue was asked to prepare an introductory lesson on the physics of motion aimed at eighth to eleventh graders. This article presents a brief description of how a detailed physics content was researched, edited, and refined by subject-matter experts, and then ultimately presented to the instructional…

This instructional design sought to create an easily graspable application of physics principles. It took an engineering slant on the content, asking students to investigate physics by attempting to increase the productivity of a "Splam-canning" plant. Design strategies are outlined for six science principles and eight product utilization…

Summarizes a discussion by the authors of this special issue that took place after the five instructional designers created lesson plans for the same design task. Highlights include the specified content's convergent effect on the designs; design philosophies; things that surprised the designers; and their favorable responses. (AEF)

Describes the distance learning initiative at the Scarman Center for the Study of Public Order (UK), focusing on two Masters courses. Discusses the course design, course materials, study guides, and complementary reading materials. Describes elements of the student support system: the student handbook, "fax-a-tutor" system, regional…

A study of 279 females at the University of Qatar that received the Group Embedded Figure Test (GEFT) indicated no interaction between learning style (field independent FID/FD field dependent) and three visual treatment types. Findings indicate the possibility of designing instructional materials to reduce achievement differences between FID and…

The success of distance education programs is directly related to the systematic instructional design and communication technology; the quality of instructional material and systems is critical to the success of a distance learning system. Merging technologies are of great importance to distance learning programs because the advanced instructional…

Proposes inclusion of case studies to instructional design courses to better prepare students for employment in instructional positions in corporate and educational settings. Discusses benefits of case studies and their application in instructional design, presents a conceptual rationale for their use, outlines the design and integration of case…

Reports on a study that examined which of the available simulators could be used by the U.S. Army Armor School (Fort Knox, Kentucky) for instructional purposes and determined actual usage of large-scale simulation networking (SIMNET) by examining usage logs maintained by SIMNET operators. The appendices list Armor School courses and simulators.…

Responds to a reaction (issue 50 number 1 p5) to the author's original paper, "Toward a Post-Modern Agenda in Instructional Technology" (2000). Contributes to the dialogue about culture and learning in instructional technology (IT). Reviews opportunities. Suggests philosophical implications for IT, derived from the author's own research on…

Discusses Maria Montessori's five pedagogical guidelines for her Cosmic Education concept: starting with the larger context; treating planet Earth as a cosmic organism; stressing similarities among seemingly different groups of people, organisms, or objects; showing chains of interdependence among all things; and examining behavior from a cosmic…

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…

Discusses second generation (G2), asynchronous online education. G2 courses provide instruction and require student interactivity in the form of asynchronous e-mail. Reviews benefits and limitations of G2 courses, what hardware and software are necessary, guidelines for teaching G2 courses, and guidelines for developing students to help them…

Explores ways to translate the techniques for facilitating and monitoring student learning for classroombased delivery into an Internetbased environment for classes offered via the World Wide Web. Discusses available instructional tools on the Internet including email; developing learning outcomes; and results of a pilot project. (Author/LRW)

Describes how the core principles of learning science lead to associated best practices in instructional design and how to translate those into practical applications in Web-based online courses. Topics include knowledge construction; student motivation; higher order learning; learning styles; experiential learning; cooperative and collaborative…