Curriculum development, field service issues, and training are discussed in this first volume of the 3-volume progress report. The overview contains a statement of the scope of the program, its major concerns in regard to teachers, parents, and children, and presents lists of objectives for these three groups. The second section, on the…

Interdisciplinary functioning in the graduate education of mental health professionals is the focus of this paper. A step-by-step approach to curriculum development through the use of an interdisciplinary model is provided. The reader is guided through the steps of identification of philosophy, methodologies of instruction, program goals, content…

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has become sufficiently widespread to require attention to the relationships between its costs, administration and benefits. Despite difficulties in instituting them, quantifiable cost-effectiveness analyses offer several advantages. They allow educators to specify with precision anticipated instructional loads,…

This study investigated the use of the PLATO III computer assisted instruction (CAI) system to assist in the teaching of an electrical network theory course. It sought to: 1) identify the topics and teaching strategies most amenable to CAI system; 2) develop computer programs needed to teach those topics; 3) use, evaluate and service the programs;…

A review of Project Themis, which focused on the computer as a teacher, is presented. Descriptions of research into four related areas of strategy are first provided. These research areas are: 1) learner strategies focusing on the internal cognitive and personality processes of the learner who is involved in computer-based learning tasks; 2)…

As the first step in a program to develop quantitative techniques for prescribing the design and use of training systems, the present study attempted: to compile an initial set of quantitative indices, to determine whether these indices could be used to describe a sample of trainee tasks and differentiate among them, to develop a predictive…

A series of five interdisciplinary conferences held over a two-year period explored new teaching and training concepts and methodologies which offer powerful, symbiotic means of augmenting human cognition. The basic discussion points of the conferences are summarized. It was felt that the conferences were significant in that they brought together…

The author examines how a simulation model relates to speech communication as an effective tool for high school and basic college speech courses. Pre-structured, teacher-structured, and spontaneous simulation games are discussed. The author concludes that regardless of which type of simulation strategy is employed, the post game discussion and…

This program consists of a series of strategies whereby a school district could develop community-ranked educational goals and teacher-developed objectives. Provision is made for the involvement of members of the community, the professional staff, and students in (1) ranking of educational goals in order of their importance, (2) assessing how well…

This speech reports a study designed to gain an understanding of what selected individuals involved in education in California know about legislation designed to influence curriculum decisions that teachers make. A 22-item questionnaire was administered to 320 teachers, 14 superintendents, 30 board members in 21 school districts, and all members…

The focus of this paper is on the relative roles of personality and training in enabling teachers to carry out the kinds of complex learning models which are envisioned by curriculum reformers in the social sciences. The paper surveys some of the major research done in this area and concludes that: 1) Most teachers do not manifest the complex…

The study of goal-directed learning through the design of components in the environment is reported. Particular emphasis is given to the way the child uses informational resources to attain an educational goal, i.e., the question of how children seek and use available information. The data gathering procedures ranged from the development and use…

Validation in curriculum development is the "check-and-balance" dimension of any instructional system, in the broadest sense almost synonymous with evaluation and accountability. This paper relates validation to individual, formative, and summative evaluation. Validation measures to be applied to instructional systems are outlined according to a…

A survey was made of the college and university instructional development programs in the United States as of January, 1971. The survey inventoried the rationale and procedures under which the programs were operating. A further objective of the survey was to develop a model which could be used as a guide for planned or existing programs. Results…

The reading preparation program at Illinois State University represents a fundamental shift in the instructional focus for preservice preparation of secondary level teachers. The competency-based program in reading is largely self-directed and self-paced. Large groups of students are assigned to an instructional team, and the faculty provides…