To determine if different levels of graphic presentation affected understanding, 131 middle school science students with high and low spatial ability were shown programs teaching concepts of molecular diffusion with no graphics, static graphics, or animated graphics. Students with low spatial ability benefited from animated presentations. Spatial…

Examines the decreasing role of hierarchy in society and organizations and describes emerging mental models for the role of people in organizations. Discusses human resources and cost control; learning hierarchy in instructional design; information technology, access, decision making, and communication and collaboration across hierarchical…

The Multimedia Education Laboratory of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan develops multimedia-based educational materials presenting difficult concepts and chemical engineering processes. Highlights include software developed for undergraduate courses; the Multimedia Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment;…

Discussion of course structure in active learning at the college level looks at ways level and type of structure can be varied and manipulated to meet challenges presented by a diverse student body. Issues discussed include the relationship of structure to cognitive style and development, fitting structure to content and objectives, and what can…

Presents a comparative analysis from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Learning Technology Standards Committee's (LTSC) of the architectural and functional design of e-learning delivery platforms and applications, e-learning course authoring tools, and learning management systems (LMSs), with a view of assessing how…

Describes a study that investigated the differential effects of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) and metacognitive training (META) on mathematical reasoning. Participants were 83 Israeli eighth-grade students. Results showed that CAS embedded within META significantly outperformed the META and CAS alone conditions, which in turn significantly…

Discusses logistics and design of an interactive teaching environment at Nova Southeastern University (Florida). Design elements include preparing instructional materials; monitoring progress; raising teacher awareness; support for learning; questions and answers via e-mail; timeliness of class participation; assessing student readiness; real-time…

Provides guidelines for the organization of information (tables of contents, headings, grouping, URLs--Uniform Resource Locators--and e-mail tags) and the construction of a Web page (size considerations, concision, spelling, file dates, e-mail links, visual appeal, link relevance, copyrights). Includes source code for a sample lesson page and…

While many universities and colleges are emphasizing distance education as a way to reach working adults and control costs associated with maintaining campus infrastructures, the World Wide Web is beginning to provide a medium for offering courses to students anywhere in the world. Discusses virtual universities which combine the Web with other…

Examines how different internal learner characteristics (prior knowledge, self efficacy, and interest) and different external constraints (learner control, instructional design, and level of control) influence the learning process. Discusses learning from multimedia environments (video, hypertext, kiosk, and other hypermedia) within a schema…

Discusses instructional design procedures for teachers to increase instructional effectiveness in classrooms with a culturally diverse student body. Highlights include analyzing learner characteristics using standardized tests and informal assessment techniques; specifying instructional strategies that are particularly useful in multicultural…

Examines some common behavior problems in middle schools and explores research-based implications for establishing a positive and supportive learning environment. Discusses the emergent role that school personnel play in promoting positive academic and behavioral outcomes for all students. Presents specific proactive strategies for supporting and…

Describes the effects of an undergraduate learner-centered community of learners approach to instruction on student motivation and cognitive learning strategies. Discusses objectives, including integrated courses, active and collaborative learning, and opportunities for learning through information technology and library resources; and describes…

Reports on a study that compares the performance of students enrolled in two sections of a Web-based computer networking course: one utilizing a simulation package and the second utilizing a static, graphical software package. Analysis shows statistically significant improvements in performance in the simulation group compared to the…

Evaluates the effectiveness of Web-based, interactive, multimedia electronic learning materials by comparing students' learning outcomes in the lecture and online versions of an introductory computing course at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Suggests that the use of carefully designed interactive electronic learning modules…