A classroom language learning exercise, Pictionary Perfect, is described and documented. With this game, junior high school English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and bilingual students create illustrated dictionaries with a desktop publishing program and a computer. The students are introduced to computers and research skills while developing English…

In June 1990, the research group at George Mason University (Virginia) Center for Interactive Educational Technology began designing a multimedia prototype to foster higher-order thinking skills in social studies. As an initial step, the Civil War Interactive Project using the Ken Burns documentary, "The Civil War," was used in a design…

This study investigated whether the visual forms of buttons influenced learning and satisfaction when early adolescent students were asked to perform tasks using computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Ninety subjects participated. Three visual forms were designed for buttons located in a CAI application. One contained pictures for commands, the…

The effects of group computer-based instruction and learning style on achievement and attitude were studied for 190 elementary school students in grades 4 and 5 in Austin (Texas). The cooperative learning methodology chosen for this study was "Learning Together." Learning Together is a cooperative learning method emphasizing five major…

A year-long study examined the effects of a computer-based reading project on students' attitudes and performance in reading and writing. Subjects (73 "at-risk" eighth-grade students in an inner-city school in Paterson, New Jersey) were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group used a software package…

This collection of essays gives an overview of recent trends and developments in second language instruction, particularly in the context of British education. Contents include: "From Complacency to Conviction: Thirty Years of Language Teaching Theory, Practice, and Policy" (David Phillips); "Lessons from the Graded Objectives…

Nineteen papers concerning various aspects of distance education and distance education research are presented in this document. The papers are: (1) "Introduction, Celebrating Difference in Research in Distance Education" (Terry Evans); (2) "Discourse or Discord? A Dilemma of Distance Education" (Philip Juler); (3)…

The first volume of a three-volume report on a three-year study of the use of computers in secondary school classrooms, this document reviews the context of the research project: its organization; the basis of the research strategy employed; and the character of the schools, teachers, and students involved. The project was conducted by the…

The objective of this study was to determine if the Accelerated Reader Program significantly improved reading skills of middle-school students. This computerized enrichment program combines over 750 classics with computers. Subjects for the study were college-prep freshmen from two junior high schools within the Gaston County (North Carolina)…

This paper discusses some of the potential benefits and hazards that virtual reality holds for exceptional children in the special education system. Topics addressed include (1) applications of virtual reality, including developing academic skills via cyberspace, vocational training, and social learning in cyberspace; (2) telepresence and distance…

A study investigated the utility of computer-assisted English second language instruction for limited-English-proficient (LEP) secondary school students in a system in which there was no regular bilingual or compensatory education offered. As a result of a home language survey and followup oral language proficiency test, three LEP or…

This book provides exemplars of the types of computer-based learning environments represented by the theoretical camps within the field and the practical applications of the theories. The contributors discuss a variety of computer applications to learning, ranging from school-related topics such as geometry, algebra, biology, history, physics, and…

A person with a learning disability usually has average or above average intelligence, but has difficulty taking in, remembering, or expressing information. Learning disabilities can involve visual processing speed, short-term memory processing, fluid reasoning, and long-term memory retrieval. These disorders are intrinsic to the individual and…

Training in decision-making skills directly contributes to the combat readiness of Battle Staff Officers. More affordable, accessible, and effective training technologies are required to supplement the Command Post Exercises currently in use. This is the final report for a 3-year research and development (R&D) effort aimed toward development…

This study examined faculty perceptions of accessibility and quality of graduate programs offered via the Internet. A total of 25 faculty (38 percent return rate) with experience teaching graduate courses via the Internet completed an e-mailed survey. It was found that half of the respondents had less than one year of experience teaching graduate…