Describes two experiments that were designed to test the effectiveness of a microcomputer-based vocabulary program for high school students. Pretest and posttest methodologies are described for learning-disabled, remedial, and general students, and results for the experimental and control groups are compared. (18 references) (Author/LRW)

Three articles address various issues concerning staff development. Topics discussed include challenges facing professional development in higher education; who has responsibility for staff development; and implications for staff development based on a survey of Non-Advanced Further Education (NAFE) in England and Wales. (LRW)

Three articles review methods of improving teacher effectiveness in the United Kingdom. An evaluation of the effectiveness of video feedback to improve lecturer performance is described; institutional initiatives to encourage new approaches to teaching and learning are discussed; and case studies of three centers for staff training are given. (LRW)

Six articles highlight governmental initiatives to encourage staff development in the United Kingdom. The Grant-Related In-Service Training Scheme (GRIST) is described from the perspectives of sponsoring institutions and local education authorities; course approval criteria established by government are reviewed; and teacher education through…

Three articles discuss professional staff development in higher education and suggest future possibilities. A proposed staff appraisal system that includes opportunities for student evaluation is outlined; questions relating to the concept and rationale of teacher appraisal in higher education are examined; and two case studies using innovation…

Reviews current findings of empirical research on older adult learning, notes key differences in how older adults and young people learn, and suggests strategies that could be used to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of instruction designed for the elderly. (33 references) (Author/LRW)

Discusses how interactive video can be used as a training tool for process operators. Highlights include instructional features of interactive video, random access and branching capabilities, examples of training for operators of automated processes, simulation and interactive video, designing interactive video programs, and suggestions for…

Results of survey of high technology educational delivery systems in nine two-year colleges (five in the United States and four in Canada) emphasize the use of computers to provide alternatives to traditional classroom teaching. Topics discussed include open education, self-paced (fleximode) learning, artificial intelligence, software, and…

Describes methods used to evaluate software for microcomputers in Japanese elementary and middle schools. Completion of an evaluation checklist by experienced teachers is described, the cluster analysis used is reviewed, and characteristics of available software are discussed and analyzed to assess their learning and teaching efficiency.…

Discussion of problems encountered in educational software development in Japan is the second of a two-part series on evaluation of Japanese microcomputer-based software. Problems associated with content, learner attitude, and graphics presentation are described, and future challenges in simulation and integrating courseware with other teaching…

Explores how a set of possible student misconceptions about solving a complex problem can be used in computer-based intelligent tutoring systems and in computer-based exercise and test generation. Topics discussed include expert systems, misconception covers, discrimination trees, methods of acquiring the set of misconceptions, and protocol…

Identifies seven general areas of competence in the field of training technology derived from a model of training as communication. The role of trainer versus that of institutional instructor is compared; preparation of trainers is discussed; and occupational analysis is described, with emphasis on developing a curriculum (DACUM). (6 references)…

Reviews the historical development and technological features of hypertext, a computerized nonlinear text system. Three major areas of applications are identified: (1) instruction, (2) electronic publishing and online databases, and (3) thinking and authoring tools. Research issues in document processing and education are also discussed. (28…

Describes Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN), which, combined with desktop workstations, will provide access to voice, text, and video telecommunications. Telecommunications technology is discussed, the use of desktop workstations to facilitate ISDN is described, and possible future uses of ISDN technology in distance education are…

Evaluates the use of computerized tutorial support for elementary statistics instruction in five education and social work courses, both graduate and undergraduate. Pretests and posttests used to measure student attitudes toward statistics and toward computers are described, and preferred learning environments before and after the course are…