Describes two studies conducted in The Netherlands that compared two modes of off-air videotape use of educational television programs on mental arithmetic for elementary students. Active use of the videotapes with interruptions for interactive teaching are compared with passive, uninterrupted viewing, and implications for the design of…

Reported is a study of the relationships between the component skills involved in practical work assessment. Skills assessed included observing, manipulating, planning, interpreting, reporting, and self-reliance. The literature relating to inter-skill relationships is reviewed. (CW)

Discusses the shift in core curriculum materials from printed textbook formats to electronic formats. Highlights include cooperative learning; teacher-student interaction; multimedia-based programs; changes in the media development process; different versions of the final product; new revision schedules; and permission to use visual images, sound,…

Discussion of the use of CD-ROMs in academic library reference departments focuses on types of instruction librarians can offer and their possible impact on other reference services. Classroom instruction versus point-of-use instruction is compared, and implications for librarians and library management are considered. (Contains 23 references.)…

Reports on a descriptive study of the effects of remoteness on the attitude levels of secondary school students taking audiographic teleconferencing courses. Attitudes of students taking courses on site with a teacher were compared to those of students taking the courses at remote locations. No significant differences were found. (52 references)…

Reports on studies that analyze the impact of microcomputers in schools on student achievement as compared to more traditional methods, and explores research that relates student achievement to software design, learner characteristics, and instructional decisions on technology implementation. (17 references) (MAB)

Discussion of children's comprehension of television focuses on a study in the United Kingdom that examined whether a successful course of television literacy could be developed for use with students from 5 to 12 years old. Treatments of experimental and control groups are explained, and correlations to other media are examined. (29 references)…

Describes a study that examined instructor perceptions of the effectiveness of various instructional methods used with interactive television at Ohio University. The frequent use of the lecture format, group discussions, and overhead transparencies is examined, recommendations for faculty training are discussed, and future research is suggested.…

Reports on ways in which interactive video-based courseware is being used with students studying for vocational qualifications at Thames Valley University (United Kingdom). Two alternative models using interactive video are described, one using multiple workstations and one using a single workstation led by a tutor. (Contains six references.) (LRW)

Discussion of the development and use of Web-based instruction in higher education focuses on issues of course content; technological assumptions; logistical and implementation challenges; interfacing between face-to-face and online learning environments; and the use of a Web-based course management tool to support face-to-face instruction. (LRW)

Compared the achievement of preservice teachers in two sections of a course on teaching English to speakers of other languages, one taught in a traditional classroom setting and the other offered online. Findings suggest that students in the Web-based section achieved more than their classroom-based counterparts. (Author/LRW)

This study investigated the effectiveness of using point-to-point videoconferencing for a 3-day professional development workshop of elementary school science teachers as part of the Science Co-op Project in rural Missouri. The intentions of this exploratory case study were to provide an overview of the program and to assess the degree to which…

For all the value that a virtual world can bring to teaching and learning, there are potentially negative consequences that must not be ignored when considering the role of technology in education. In his commentary, Robert Sanders draws upon a 1909 short story by E.M. Forster ("The Machine Stops") as well as his own experience with students to…

In this study, 254 Royal Roads University School of Business learners (graduates and undergraduates) were surveyed on their online course-related reading habits and choices. Based on their responses and anecdotal comments and the data from follow-up interviews with six of the participants, learners preferred print copies of text materials for…

Learning from a distance continues to gain popularity. An influx of traditional, and even on-campus students attest to its flexibility, but are they equipped to succeed in a low-contact distance environment versus a face-to-face, on-campus environment? This research explored whether several variables including background, preparedness and…