Two components of Scenario, a computer program designed for instructional use, are reviewed, and their applications are discussed. Without learning a programing language, teachers and students can author lessons or presentation materials, including color or monochrome text, graphics, and sound. The program is adaptable to foreign language…

Compares the strengths and weaknesses of four authoring systems that can be used for courseware development: (1) Quest; (2) PCD3; (3) IconAuthor; and (4) Course of Action. Evaluation procedures used to assess their power, ease of use, and productivity aids are explained; menu and icon structures are described; and interactive design implications…

Discusses the importance of screen design in computer-based instruction (CBI), and presents a framework for screen design decisions based on the ROPES (Retrieving, Orienting, Presenting, Encoding, and Sequencing) meta-model for instructional design. Psychological, instructional, and technological foundations of screen design are discussed, and…

Describes a naturalistic paradigm and discusses the value of using a naturalistic, or qualitative, approach to study the effectiveness of computer-based instruction (CBI) and to design effective courseware. Topics discussed include data collection; data analysis; and findings of naturalistic studies of CBI effectiveness. (53 references) (LRW)

Discusses the development of computer-assisted music instruction at Ohio State University and describes a courseware development system for the Apple Macintosh microcomputer that facilitates the creation of sophisticated computer-assisted music instruction programs. Walter Hewlett's pitch representation system is described, structured programing…

The authors discuss considerations for integrating microcomputer software into the classroom at the postsecondary level. They describe a design paradigm that may help avoid the trap of "technology for technology's sake." (CH)

Explains how a model of an instructional process can be translated into an instructional processor that can be used to develop courseware for computer assisted instruction. The General Systems Theory is discussed as a conceptual framework, and models based on three levels of the decision-making process are described. (12 references) (LRW)

Discussion of how to teach programming skills to novice programmers focuses on the use of a program animator that uses a copies model of recursion to teach the recursive function. Various mental models are reviewed; testing the recursion animator is described; and possibilities for further research are suggested. (12 references) (LRW)

Results of a two-year project (L'Italiano interattivo) conducted in collaboration with the Norwegian Computing Centre for the Humanities to produce learner-directed Italian courseware are reported. The SuperCard-developed program allows students to work with video, exercises, grammar, dictionary, or transcripts. (Author/LB)

Most currently available computer-assisted language learning offerings fall into three categories: instructional, collaborative, and facilitative. Each is described and cost-effective approaches to using them are noted. (Contains two references.) (LB)

Overviews three computer software programs. "Triple Play" allows its user to practice listening and speaking skills without having to type letters. "In the French Body" and "In the German Body" are designed to heighten students' awareness of nonverbal communicative behaviors by French and German native speakers and to help students develop skills…

Explores the principles and theories relevant to the design of effective hypermedia courseware. Proposes a hypermedia design: micro-(node) design, dealing with the creation of discrete information screens; and macro-(links), dealing with the connections between them. Presents a prototype courseware template and a courseware unit based on design…

Describes an intelligent computer-assisted learning system that is able to generate individualized courses of instruction for students with different background knowledge and different purposes. Highlights include system architecture; domain knowledge base and student model; authoring by the teacher; courseware planning; and pedagogical tuning by…

Examines the current status and short-term future of computer software development in higher education. Topics discussed include educational advantages of software; current program development techniques, including object oriented programming; and market trends, including IBM versus Macintosh and multimedia programs. (LRW)

An interactive, multimedia text for calculus instruction that contains the entire contents of a corresponding textbook is evaluated and found to have features that enhance concepts with dynamic examples of graphs and problems that make good use of animation, audio, and video. Its design accommodates diverse student abilities and educational…