A decade after mathematicians began a crusade to make calculus more relevant to undergraduate students ("Reform Calculus"), a backlash threatens to derail the effort and divide the profession. Critics charge the movement has watered down mathematics courses, teaching only superficial use of skills. The debate is fierce and the stakes…

Describes an instructional unit integrating three educational innovations: a problem-solving video (Adventures of Jasper Woodbury), a structure for collaborative learning, Fostering Communities of Learners (FCL), and Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE). Argues that each innovation supports collaboration in a distinct way…

Gives an overview of service-learning principles and a rationale for transforming traditional courses into service-learning courses. Presents small-group techniques for problem solving and increasing group service-learning success. Draws on author experience and research in other disciplines. Argues that, when theories of classroom instruction are…

Discusses three ways that instructional design theories can change over time: (1) revision via evolution of models to reflect the outcomes that are being achieved with its current use; (2) revision to reflect current understanding of technology; and (3) complete replacement of present theory with another more powerful theory. Describes the…

Reviewing training and performance support materials ensures quality and builds the developer's skills. Examines the review process, reviewing to build skills, self-reviewing, technological aids, and feedback; provides guidelines for reviewers and developers; and suggests techniques for development improvement. Outlines suggested review stages and…

Responds to a critique by Alistair Inglis of a previous article dealing with instructional industrialism and educational technology in open learning and distance education. Topics include paradigm shifts; instructional design; behaviorism and cognitive psychology; the relationship between practice, research, and theory; and possibilities for…

Compares the ways teaching material is designed in two European distance universities, the German FernUniversitaet (a classical university operating at a distance) and the Dutch Open Universiteit (an open/flexible institution). Outlines the pedagogical and methodological issues involved and shows how institutional constraints have affected…

Explores the different perceptions of community college and four-year institution library professionals toward bibliographic instruction (BI) for transfer students based on a SUNY (State University of New York) study. Topics include a literature review, the use of a written survey and interviews, and differences in instructional design and faculty…

Examines the constructivist educational philosophy. Highlights include the significance of written materials, the aims of education, the subjective base of constructivism, the need for more understanding of social and cognitive processes, the limitation of consciousness to the present, the need for constructs and constructs of objects,…

Discussion of the curriculum for library and information studies focuses on courses at the Queensland University of Technology (Australia) dealing with information organization. Highlights include subject design and implementation; unit objectives; instructional design; course content; student assignments; and reactions from the professional…

The British government's Modern Apprenticeship initiative has the following features: adoption of the best aspects of traditional apprenticeship, links with National Vocational Qualifications, breadth, and industry ownership. Key issues in the design of learning include holistic approaches to the attainment of occupational competence; effective…

Discussion of electronic learning and Web-based learning focuses on blended learning programs which can include offline and online learning; self-paced and live, collaborative learning; structured and unstructured learning; and custom content and off-the-shelf content. Describes a model, called Khan's Octagonal Framework, which can be used to…

Describes an evaluation of Web-based instruction at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (Texas) that showed that the design team had been distracted from many first principles of instructional design by the creative chaos on the Web and discusses how self-reflection and role definitions allowed the team to overcome these disappointments and…

Addresses some of the issues that instructional designers will face in the near future and ways to deal with new instructional affordances and constraint, including: Menu and Audio, Video, Subpicture Interleaved, Streamlining Digital Media (MAVSI-SDM); three-dimensional flowcharting; designing multi-faceted storyboards and scripts; managing video,…

Describes the Online Academy that developed online instructional modules in reading, positive behavior support, and technology across the curriculum for preservice teacher education programs at the University of Kansas. Focuses on the formative evaluation processes that were employed in creating the instructional design, usability, and…