Describes an experiment with 332 students enrolled in an instructional media course at Pennsylvania State University which evaluated the instructional effectiveness of self-paced instruction when units were accompanied by visual aids differing in amounts of realistic detail and the relationship to a student's reading comprehension level. Nineteen…

Presents an overview of computer use in education and other realms. Concludes that the true computer revolution in education may not be the use of computer assisted instruction but rather the combining of computers with other electronic devices for the advent of widespread decentralized education. (Author/DC)

Reports on several studies that examined the use of newspapers in classrooms. Cites research supporting the conclusions that newspaper training programs improved teacher attitudes toward using newspapers in the classroom and newspaper use influenced students' reading attitudes, reading interests, reading achievement, and classroom verbal…

Experience in Scotland shows that telephone tuition can be an effective means to bring remote students and tutors into direct contact. One-to-one tuition, conference call tuition, and loud-speaker tuition are discussed. Limitations and advantages of this medium are noted, and development across the United Kingdom is advocated. (AF)

Examines the difficulty of determining sociology course objectives for the diverse student populations at community colleges. Argues that sociology instructors, in light of this diversity, should use a combination of teaching modalities and should stress content relating to college survival skills, enhanced social awareness, and increased…

This description of the status of educational technology and trends in the development of the field in Argentina is based on article documents, reports, and a survey of projects operating in that country. Sixteen references are listed. (Author/CHC)

Computers can effectively present many forms of instructional material. Computers can also facilitate response-judging; provide feedback; store, index, and retrieve collections of information pertaining to instruction; and assist teachers with many administrative functions. (JN)

The author describes several teaching aids and techniques to help blind and partially sighted students understand electronics, specifically devices (with availability) he has found effective in preparing a blind student for a ham radio license: an audital multimeter, raised line drawings, Opticon, braille texts, and Speech Pulse Calculator. (MF)

Describes an exploratory study to determine the usefulness of speech compression units. The compression rates (normal, 80 percent and 60 percent) are described as well as percentages of usage of each one, analysis of a student questionnaire, and indications on the need of further investigation. (AMH)

At Texas A&M University, a diagnostic pretesting system has been developed for use in the Freshman Biology Program. The system provides a profile of student competency levels for students, instructors, and the course coordinator that indicates where the curriculum of methods needs to be altered, and identifies students who need remedial help.…

Discusses a self-instructional programed Visual-Tutorial learning system, designed to teach preservice elementary school teachers both theory and skills related to effective classroom utilization of audiovisual materials and equipment. An outline of the course, "Media Practicum," is included. (RAO)

Teacher-librarians can learn more about the effect of media and new technologies, and how to introduce these topics in the classroom. The Media Awareness Network World Wide Web site offers well-organized information and teaching units on privacy and other pertinent topics. Provides excerpts of online materials provided by the Media Awareness…

Discusses room videoconferencing systems and describes the basic equipment needed for producing and transmitting signals. Outlines guidelines for producing instructional videoconferences: know your equipment, follow principles of television production, prepare instructional materials in advance, test graphics in advance, script the program,…

Describes the use of Mathcad, an interactive software package that responds to mathematical input, in an undergraduate economics class. Mathcad uses a rules-based programming language that "reads" the relationships among variables and constraints defined by the user, solves for unknowns, and graphs for one or more equations. (MJP)

Describes a project that combines technology, teacher education, and the use of manipulatives for mathematics instruction to enhance the professional development of prospective teachers. The multimedia developed in the project are a means of bringing the classroom environment to the university to facilitate discussions about prospective teachers'…