Discusses highlights of a literature review on guidelines for formative evaluation of courseware and the development of a formative evaluation instrument by the Kanata High Technology Training Association (Ottawa). The eight dimensions of the resultant questionnaire are listed and a copy of the evaluation instrument is included. (MBR)

Describes study that compared the quantitative and qualitative nature of problems in instructional materials identified by undergraduate students via three methods of formative evaluation. An explanation of the process of Learner Verification and Revision (LVR) stresses assessment and improvement of the instructional effectiveness of materials in…

Reports the comments of students who come to the writing class from the work place. Argues that teachers need to change their teaching methods to meet the needs of these students. (FL)

Examines university-level French students trained to use effective reading strategies and skills. Results indicate that, although the trained students demonstrated better reading comprehension than did their untrained peers, the variables of teaching methodologies and cognitive styles significantly affected the outcome. (Author/CB)

This article reviews five modes of computer-assisted software so that teachers will be more aware of them and use computers more in their classrooms. The five modes are the following: (1) drill and practice; (2) tutorial; (3) simulation; (4) demonstration; and (5) instructional games. Teachers should review softwares and choose those that meet…

Examines the extent to which the changes in friendship during a school year influence children's impressions of their friendships and their preference for sharing over competition with friends. Also studied the differences between friendships in middle childhood and early adolescence, using multiple methods and measures. (HOD)

Presents findings from a comparison of traditional classroom lecture on lecture-replacement stand-alone PLATO-based delivery made to learn Fortran. Two semesters were examined separately, semester one (n=54) and semester two (n=36), using a two-tailed t-test at .01 level of significance. No difference was found. (JM)

This theoretical analysis articulates verbal rule properties and use implications, describes an empirical study examining characteristics of problem solving performance when verbal rules are instructed as a problem solving method, and discusses role of verbal rules in problem solving and implications for learning procedural skills. (MBR)

Explains how students in a basic writing course gained confidence and independence as writers by producing and revising their texts on screen. (HOD)

Describes an approach to writing evaluation in which the teacher asks the student to write a student-teacher memo--a brief, informal not-to-be-graded communication--that explains the student's intention in responding to the writing assignment. (HOD)

Recounts how the author planned one computer-based language lesson, which she describes as a "disaster," and how she combined her own analysis with feedback from the students to plan a more successful second lesson. Discusses student failure, purpose and motivation, appropriateness of materials, process-oriented learning, and openness between…

This study compared media selection decisions novice instructional developers make when using an intuitive selection approach versus Reiser and Gagne's formal selection procedure. Formal selection procedure use results in media selection choices matching those of experienced developers, and more selection factors are considered when novices…

Describes imaginative ways to teach "A Wizard of Earthsea," a fantasy novel by Ursula LeGuin, with teaching time limited to one hour a week for six weeks. (HOD)

Describes a package of computer programs developed to implement an oil exploration game that gives undergraduate students practical experience in applying theoretical principles of petroleum geology. The programs facilitate management of the game by the instructor and enhance the learning experience. (Author/MBR)

This survey examined class size, teaching methods, and the one-semester/two-semester organization of the introductory economics course. Student satisfaction with respect to their institution was also studied. (Author/RM)