Scholars representing the field of systems science were asked to identify what they considered to be the most exciting and imaginative work currently being done in their field, as well as how that work might change our understanding. The scholars included Alexander Christakis, Debora Hammond, Michael Jackson, Alexander Laszlo, Ian Mitroff, Dave…

Appointment of a national Commission on Instructional Technology under the Public Broadcasting Act points up the need for broad participation in defining agreeable boundaries of the field of instructional technology. The assignment is complicated by a posture of pessimism in a new power structure of instructional technology, or "learning systems,"…

While most organizations react to economic downturns by downsizing and cutting training and educational "costs," a few others thrive under adversity by engaging in innovative practices supported by extensive and creative uses of educational technology. This article examines how diverse organizations benefit from the cycles of "creative…

This article, the third in a series of four installments, begins by discussing the need for paradigm change in education and for a critical systems approach to paradigm change, and examines current progress toward paradigm change. Then it explores what a learner-centered, Information-Age educational system should be like, including the APA…

Discusses various ways in which context may be interpreted to enhance learning and performance; illustrates domains of learning using a hockey team as an example; and suggests implications for learning, performance, and instructional design. Highlights include an ecological systems model; and examples of individual development, team learning, and…

Examines the developmental needs for Web-based courses, focusing on content, user interface, and pedagogy. Studies the Web course development process as a system, explores various stages in the process, and includes graphs and tables designed to be used as management tools for the effective development of Web-based courses. (Author/LRW)

Provides basic guidelines for designing and creating a faculty Web site using a systems approach. Describes instructional design principles used in Web site design, including considering the target audience, clear objectives, home page and contents, site navigation structure, page design, text and graphics, and selecting a Web authoring program.…

Discusses the current situation in educational systems based on a consideration of scientific concepts including chaos theory, complexity, and dynamical social systems. Highlights include systemic change in education; perturbation; self-organization; dissipation of rigid structures; sensitivity to initial conditions; entropy; bifurcations; and…

Provides guidelines for systemic change in education. Presents an overview of the change process. Discusses preparing for change; building a core team to lead the design effort; transforming vision into system design; shifting focus from planning to implementation; and implementation, summative evaluation, and closure. (AEF)

Discusses transfer of training and explains the Transfer Design Model, which provides a comprehensive process for designing transfer techniques into training materials and organizational systems. Topics include initial performance measure, systemic design factors, instructional design factors, training, maintenance system, and transfer performance…

Examines educational change from the perspective of differing research and development paradigms. Describes total quality management, zero defects management, systems thinking, and implications of these paradigms. Also discusses postmodernism, constructivism, and the future for development in education. (AEF)

Examines elements of the traditional teaching-learning model in relation to changing objectives in education and discusses the application of a technology of education as an alternative model, recommending a shift of focus from systematic to a systems approach in building comprehensive models responsive to social issues and requirements. (RAO)

Reviews the present status of computer-managed instruction systems (CMI) and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) applications in elementary and secondary schools, and examines the computer's ability to individualize instruction. Some speculations about the future of computers in public education are offered. (RAO)

Details a three-dimensional model developed by Control Data Education Services which provides for analysis of project needs, staffing project personnel, and tracking project tasks. Document support for implementing the model and staffing considerations are defined. (RAO)

Discusses the development of procedures for data identification and control that minimize the error due to application of systems concepts in performing task analysis of foreign language instruction. (RAO)