Nested latent variable causal models were contrasted to compare the relationships of distal family and child and proximal adolescent factors to dropping out of high school in a sample of 194 Euro-American families over 19 years. Dropping out was a multiply-determined process with early influences developing in childhood. (SLD)

The effects of a task-focused goals (TFG) treatment in mathematics were studied with low-achieving students with or without learning disabilities. Results with 40 elementary classrooms showed that TFG students enjoyed the approach, but that increased effort was associated with greater learning only for those without learning disabilities. (SLD)

Examined parental mastery orientation, performance orientation, and efficacy in involvement as predictors of parent involvement in education, noting those variables' ability to mediate the effects of amount of teacher communication, child achievement, and parent educational level and ethnicity on parent involvement. Parent surveys demonstrated the…

Addresses the importance of research and development in the field of educational technology, based on reflections of previous articles and a symposium. Highlights include the centrality of design; the enabling capabilities of technology; collaboration; scaling up of projects; the use of alternative research methodologies; and instructional systems…

Offers a response to Kozma's article and his views on educational technology. Maintains that Kozma focuses too much on technology-driven instruction and learning and over-emphasizes the role of media research. Discusses the role of technology and considers the future of academic programs in the field, particularly doctoral programs. (LRW)

Emphasizes the need to focus educational technology (ET) research on design as well as on technology. Suggests that what should distinguish the field of educational technology is designing with technology, and conducting research that examines the relationship between design and technology. Discusses technology as enabling new designs, not driving…

Examines three distance learning programs conducted over Vision Athena, an interactive television distance learning system. Emphasis in each project was on using interactive television to engage secondary school students in communities of practice in designed, or intentional, learning environments. Discusses the changing role of teachers,…

Describes a study of preservice teacher education students that investigated the process used by learners to seek, locate, and integrate information resources from the World Wide Web for use in a project-based environment. Discusses hypermedia systems; open-ended learning environments; the role of metacognitive, domain, and system knowledge; and…

Explores the effectiveness of distance learning and multimedia technologies in facilitating an expanded learning community between geographically separated elementary and secondary schools with Hispanic students in Texas. Highlights include the Cultural Connections program; teacher collaboration; curricular activities; identity-forming…

Discussion of computer-based online help systems for instructional software focuses on three types of learner support: for optimizing use of a computer program; for learning content; and for monitoring and enhancing learning. Proposes a multi-dimensional model of learner-support space defined by the intrusiveness of the delivery methods and…

Discussion of information technology in Japan includes historical background, government-initiated movements for school reform backed by computer networks, and the introduction of an information technology course in senior high schools. Describes a nationwide open education project in Korea and the state of cyber universities supported by the…

Describes the development and implementation process of a Web-based science museum in Taiwan. Topics include use of the Internet; lifelong distance learning; museums and the Internet; objectives of the science museum; funding; categories of exhibitions; analysis of Web users; homepage characteristics; graphics and the effect on speed; and future…

Discusses the concept of post-modernism and relates it to the field of instructional technology. Topics include structuralism; semiotics; poststructuralism; deconstruction; knowledge and power; critical theory; self-concept; post-modern assumptions; and potential contributions of post-modern concepts in instructional technology. (Contains 80…

Discussion of computer implementation and computer technology integration in classrooms focuses on a study that developed and validated a measure for examining the quality of implementation of an integrated learning system (ILS). Explains the Concerns Based Adoption Model and identifies implementation practices of teachers that indicated…

This exploratory study investigated whether the process of constructing an expert system model promotes the formation of expert-like mental models. Discusses expert systems as mindtools, expert systems as learning tools, the assessment of mental models, results of pretests and posttests, and future research. (Contains 56 references.) (Author/LRW)