Suggesting a diamond as a visual metaphor for upcoming research in school library media, this article discusses four questions that would occupy the corners. Questions examine contributions of library media programs to student achievement; roles of the library media specialist in today's schools; how students use electronic information resources…

Discusses successes and failures in the field of instructional technology and suggests methods to design more appropriate systems that would present fewer barriers to adoption. Topics discussed include educational television; videotext; video technology; audiovisual aids; teleconferencing; computer assisted instruction; interactive video; CD-ROM;…

Presents findings of a preliminary review of research literature on learners and learning in distance education. Comparative analyses of distance education methods and research on student outcomes are highlighted, including students' reasons for dropout or persistence, student profiles, and the impact of institutional interventions on student…

Describes an introductory media course developed at Purdue University Calumet for undergraduate elementary education students which consisted of individualized instruction modules and seminars. Components of the course are explained, including equipment operations, media production, and instructional design, and the role of the Educational Media…

Examines some of the ways word processing functions as a tool for beginning writers by focusing on one five-year-old student's progress in composition and understanding of the activity of writing. Writing task, writer skill, learning context, and software capacity intersected in a way that word processing functioned as a felicitous tool. (SM)

Robert M. Diamond, Vice Chancellor for Instructional Development at Syracuse University (SU), draws on 25 years experience in the field to discuss the evolution of instructional development programs in higher education in general and the SU program in particular. Issues surrounding the definition and process of instructional development and its…

Discussion of distance education in China focuses on the development of a satellite television-based multimedia education system. The link between education and socioeconomic progress is discussed; the need for teacher training is described; the use of distance education for professional, vocational, and continuing education is explained; and…

Describes two studies that examined the nature of Japanese elementary and junior high school students' perceptions of different media, the effect of teachers on these perceptions, and the relationship between perceptions and student learning. The studies of fifth graders and eighth graders also addressed gender and class differences. (Contains…

Describes a graduate course on distance learning which uses seven kinds of asynchronous and synchronous interactive media. All students were able to find their voices in one of the media, and many achieved profound learning experiences at a distance. One of the disadvantages of using multiple media is the problem of measuring the outcomes of…

Reports on a two-year ethnographic study focusing on gender, science education, and the introduction of networked digital media for learning in middle schools. Describes how learners become active participants, exploring gender attitudes, when studying socio-scientific issues related to an endangered rain forest and using video, the Internet, and…

Examines why technology and media are critical to distance education, what attributes may contribute to distance education, and factors that must be taken into account when adopting and integrating media into distance education, including changing roles and responsibilities. Looks at barriers to expanded use of media in distance education and the…

Compares the ratings assigned to audio and videotaped vibrato performances of inexperienced and experienced violinists and violists. Rated the performances on five vibrato factors: width, speed, evenness, pitch stability, and overall sound. Although the experienced players were consistently rated higher, the results suggested that visual cues may…

Visual and ICT media are often perceived as a threat to book reading in leisure time. They are accused of taking time and interest away from children and adolescents' book reading by offering them more approachable alternatives. Children and adolescents' book reading habits and the way these habits have changed over time are in focus. Is there any…

Virtual reality is an immersive, interactive medium that manipulates the senses in order provide users with simulated experiences in computer-generated worlds. The visual design of virtual reality is an important issue, but literature has tended to stress the medium's instructional potential rather than setting forth a protocol for designing…

The new medium of computer-aided design requires changes to the creative problem-solving methodologies typically employed in the development of new visual designs. Most theoretical models of creative problem-solving suggest a linear progression from preparation and incubation to some type of evaluative study of the "inspiration." These…