At Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, interactive video serves both as an instructional tool and a project for creative students in graphic communications. The package facilitates courseware development and teaches students simultaneously about microcomputer and video technology. (SK)

Points out that although there are thousands of software programs available to support educational applications, there is a paucity of suitable courseware. An in-place system for proper evaluation of courseware that, to date, has "approved" more than 200 computer-assisted instructional programs is described. (JN)

Reviews: (1) "Galaxy Search" (reading skills game); (2) "Spellagraph" (rebus game providing effective drill of spelling words in context); and (3) "Reading Comprehension Skills 3" (provides drill of sounds and words and practice with reading comprehension skills). Includes computer needed, manufacturer, current price,…

Reports on the various ways microcomputer hardware and courseware are being integrated into the nation's schools, in a race to avoid being locked into technological mediocrity. Effectiveness of computer assisted instruction, courseware development, and the time students use computers in elementary and secondary schools are among the areas…

The choice of what to include in educational software is an issue with which instructional designers are regularly concerned. Multimedia capacity, standard on today's desktop computers, gives designers the opportunity to provide learners a more exciting learning experience than simply looking, clicking, and then looking some more. One feature that…

This pamphlet discusses open courseware, exploring its origin and educational potential. "Courseware" includes educational software and electronic course materials. "Open courseware" describes courseware that gives users a significant degree of openness (or accessibility) to these course materials. The courseware provides a technological and legal…

This paper describes the results of a United Kingdom research program evaluating computer-based learning software and determining its suitability in supporting the different learning styles of users. A design taxonomy is proposed that helps designers build software to target multiple specific learning styles. This enables the courseware to be more…

New technologies are used in many courses and for many occasions. Good teachers try to use the best tool and the best method to introduce or to treat difficult subjects by presenting the information in different ways: spoken words, written text, pictures, graphs, movies or by using interactive computer tools. It is a fact that students who…

Discusses navigation in instructional hypertext programs and describes two preliminary studies that investigated concrete versus abstract representations for backward navigation. Topics include representation and hypermedia sign systems; and consistency in the forms designers use for navigation buttons. (LRW)

The MEDA (Methodologie d'Evaluation des Didacticiels pour les Adultes) tool is a generic instrument to evaluate training courseware. It was developed for software designers to improve products, for instructors to select appropriate courseware, and for distributors and consultants to match software to client needs. Describes software evaluation…

Describes the evolution and emergence of three-dimensional media (3D) as interactive courseware. Topics of discussion include how the new media is developed; what training applications it can offer; systems requirements in hardware and architecture; specific tasks and phases in the development process; costs; and advantages and limitations. (BEW)

Discussion of the Instructional Systems Development (ISD) model for developing instructional materials focuses on a computer program that integrates the tasks of course mapping, flowcharting, storyboarding, screen layout, and testing for courseware development. Authoring is practically eliminated, resulting in a significant time savings.…

Proposes the need for electronic learning to be redefined to move beyond training toward a wider array of solutions, from performance support to knowledge management. Topics include balancing employees' instructional needs with informational needs; integrating online courseware with knowledge systems; communities of practice; access to experts;…

Describes how college librarians are working with professors and some courseware companies to add research aids to course Web sites. (EV)

Discussion of computer-assisted learning (CAL) and the instructional functions of audio highlights the development of an interactional audio-CAL system used for second-language learning. Levels of interactivity in media are discussed, hardware that would add audio to a CAL system is described, and future research is suggested. (10 references) (LRW)