The current level of simulation and game (SG) research and development activity in Australia is limited compared with levels in America and England; but Australian interest in SG is rapidly increasing, especially due to the recent formation of the Australian Decision-Simulation and Educational Gaming Association. (CMV)

Article discusses (1) implications of understanding children's functional language competence for assessment and evaluation, (2) application of this understanding to preparation of teaching materials and design of curricula, and (3) recognition of children's language as a viable system of its own rather than an incomplete rendition of the adult…

It is argued that the outdoor environment provides an opportunity for students to use and master the metric system and that the metric system allows data to be collected and tabulated easily and exactly. Specific activities for using the metric system in the outdoors are suggested. (Author/EB)

Examines how instructional development processes can be successfully managed. Principles of management are offered for setting precise goals; acceptance of these goals; and maximizing self-concept through formal rewards that are goal oriented, through performance evaluation, and through change analysis. (RAO)

Summarizes some of the currently available computer teaching media and illustrates the integration of computers with other audiovisual techniques by reference to PLATO. (Author/CMV)

Describes the principles, design, use, and preliminary evaluation of an 11-week in-service course based on an audiovisual format. Preliminary observation indicates a continuing demand by teachers for access to the course, and that it is capable of changing teacher behavior in ways consistent with the course aims. (Author/JEG)

This study measured the effectiveness of Structured Learning Training (SLT) for teaching confrontation skills to trainees varying in conceptual development. Both a self-instruction approach and a standard implementation of SLT were effective for teaching confrontation skills. Self-instruction SLT was more effective with high CL trainees than with…

"Blocking" is an alternative model for teacher education in which faculty take existing courses and field experiences, integrate the learning concepts, and through variable time structuring, mode flexibility, synthesis of theory and practice, and experiential instruction present a "block" of consecutive, team-taught courses. (MB)

Discusses the use of satellite-mediated distance learning. Highlights include costs; implementation; interactive distance learning (IDL); instructional design; a case study of a training course designed for IDL that used satellite technology; and a checklist for planning satellite-mediated IDL. (LRW)

Teaching by telephone is one of the original distance education media, and retains an important place among distance learning media. Key considerations in teaching by telephone include: knowing the medium's strengths and limitations; designing for the audio medium; using teaching and humanizing methods that foster cognitive and affective…

Highlights a school which systematically tries to cater to all pupil's needs, including the very able students. Describes the program's structure, the faculty of the school, the student population, and the instructional and extracurricular programming in the elementary, middle school and high school grades. (Author/CR)

Reviews the effectiveness of animation in enhancing textual information for instructional purposes and identifies factors that determine effectiveness. Outlines methodological problems in the research and summarizes design criteria for multimedia instructional products. Contains 78 references. (PEN)

Discusses results of a survey of instructional design professionals that was conducted to determine how they spend their time. Highlights include job titles; undergraduate and masters degrees; faculty positions; design work; project management and administration; research; and suggestions for further research and the use of new research…

Discusses instructional design, focusing on the use of instructional tactics and their effects on cognitive processes. Describes a study of undergraduates using computer programs that investigated whether the effectiveness of an instructional adjunct, in this case maps, may sometimes be undermined when used concurrently with another instructional…

Describes the Online Student Resource Centre Web site, developed at Monash University (Australia), which offers stand-alone tutorials. Outlines the process and philosophy of development of the tutorials, based on a constructivist framework, with guided and self-directed learning paths designed to accommodate a range of learning styles. (LRW)