Describes the development of an electronic language laboratory at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury. Topics include the selection of hardware and software, two English-as-a-Second-Language programs, integration into the classroom curriculum, and benefits of computer-assisted language instruction. (LRW)

Discusses the educational uses of computer games and simulations and describes a study conducted at the State University of New York College at Farmingdale that used the computer game "Sim City 2000." Highlights include whole systems learning, problem solving, student performance, nonparametric statistics, and treatment of experimental and control…

Discusses a rank-ordering exercise designed to highlight evaluation issues involved in development of simulation training activities. The rank-ordering exercise raised awareness of internal and external validity issues, and highlighted the need for evaluation "checks" to be made during the planning stages of any research of consultancy project.…

A survey of sports scientists in the United Kingdom was carried out to identify the extent and nature of uses for computers, such as hardware, software, availability, support mechanisms, and problem areas. Over 40% of those surveyed use computers for teaching and research, especially in exercise science, and most software used was commercial in…

Describes an investigation of the search strategies employed by novice users of an interactive information system. A class of 12-year-old students was instructed in use of an electronic encyclopedia, which they used as an information source for projects and to complete skills tests. Students employed inefficient search strategies and had…

Describes an introductory computing course in which first-year students registered their presence and submitted assignments by electronic mail. Returning assignments by e-mail was found to be an effective method of giving individual help to those needing it most; individual student misconceptions could be more easily detected; and class discipline…

Explores how users interact and learn during computer-based simulations given graphical and textual forms of feedback. Graduate students were randomly assigned computer simulations with graphical feedback, textual feedback, or graphical plus textual feedback. Findings indicate that graphical feedback provides experiential learning, but that these…

Examines elaboration theory of instruction (ETI), a theory that prescribes different patterns of sequencing for different kinds of learning. Presents results of surveying undergraduate students who have undergone ETI sequencing. Results identify the strengths and weaknesses of the instruction and ways of improving it. Student debriefing questions…

Investigates issues fundamental to computer-assisted, multicultural education. Studied Asian American middle school students who corresponded electronically with culturally dissimilar students. Findings indicate that students of different ethnic backgrounds may have different attitudes about and knowledge of computers, cross-cultural communication…

Examines the revision practices of eight experienced instructional designers who were given the task of revising written instructional materials. Findings show that when the designers were provided with the commonly recommended sources of feedback data, they preferred to use their own knowledge as the primary data source for making revisions.…

Examines the use of cognitive apprenticeships as a framework for instructional design to help address the needs of a distributed learning environment. Describes the applications of a multimedia training course that helps weather forecasters interpret radar. Findings indicate that cognitive apprenticeships can be implemented in multimedia to meet…

Evaluates the effectiveness of the Florida Teletraining Project, a project that used video teletraining to provide distance education courses to United States military personnel. Describes the instructional methods and strategies used and reports results of performance tests and reactions of students and instructional personnel. Findings indicate…

Discussion of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) for foreign languages focuses on a case study at Monash University (Australia) that investigated language learning strategies employed by students learning Japanese. Results suggest that computer software designers need to be aware of language learning strategies for effective design of CALL…

Discusses advancements in multimedia technology, and presents a design model for managing interactive multimedia courseware production that includes five phases: analysis, development, production, evaluation, and implementation. Five examples of interactive multimedia courseware are described. (Author/LRW)

Outlines an investigation into the nature of metacognition and its relation to the learning process in a constructivist interactive multimedia learning environment. Topics include the relationship between metacognition and learning technologies (and an example), the learner's perspective, the designer's perspective, and the teacher's perspective.…