The specialist team approach to the design and preparation of instructional television materials uses a core group of professionals who work closely together, each making unique contributions throughout the duration of a project. Typically the team consists of content authorities, an instructional designer, a writer, a producer-director, and a researcher. The best known users of the team approach are the Children's Television Workshop, the British Open University, the Agency for Instructional Television, the University of Mid-America, and the National University Consortium. This "evolutionary" approach to the creation of program series is both traditional and practical in American public television stations. When a decision is made to implement a new series, personnel become involved one at a time or in task-oriented meetings of necessary personnel. Producer, writer, content specialists, director, researcher, and others are designated and consulted when the need for their services becomes evident. Unfortunately, this approach misses some of the most important advantages of the team concept. Lost are the early and continuing opportunities for specialized contributions and creative interaction and the minimized likelihood of a project being deprived of some particular expertise that would lead to a more effective program or more efficient procedures. Nevertheless, application of the specialist team concept tends to result in a more effective and productive use of the particular skills of key professionals whose expertise is needed on an instructional television project. (HOD)