Most educational efforts focus on declarative knowledge and information, which are described primarily as "content." This concentration is common for online courses. Few go beyond this limited level of learning to seek changes in skills and character traits such as curiosity or creativity. Using a project-based curriculum, a course on…

This writing looks at an elemental aspect of learning and communication, the question, and contends that questions can be viewed as a technology for education. Questions that we ask in the classroom, online, or in discussion can shape learning and develop skills in students, and they should be more systematically employed in education. This…

The most defining characteristic of MOOCs and other massive courses may be their scale. In their popular description, in the pedagogical and technological approach, in course operation, and in impact, the scale of the course is always foremost in mind. Beyond changes in scale, there are challenges and opportunities to adapt the new techniques in a…

This is the fourth and final installment in a series of articles presenting a new outlook on the methods of instructional design. These articles examine the nature of the process of instructional design and are meant to stimulate discussion about the roles of designers in the fields of instructional design, the learning sciences, and interaction…

This article is the third in a series of four articles that present a new outlook on the methods of instructional design. The authors examine the nature of the process of instructional design, with the goal of stimulating discussion about designer roles. In this article, the authors consider the realization of scientific and educational theory…

This article is the second installment in a four-part "Educational Technology" series exploring a contemporary perspective on the process of instructional design. In this article, the authors reintroduce the framework of Role-Based Design (RBD) and describe practical strategies for its integration into design workflow. Next, they examine their…

This is the first in a series of four articles presenting a new outlook on the process of instructional design. Along with offering an improvement to current practice, the goal is to stimulate discussion about the role of designers, and more importantly, about the nature of the process of instructional design. The authors present in this article a…

This article discusses the use of narrative and myth to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of instructional design. The central aim is to better connect instructional experiences with cognition. Explicitly stated, this writing proposes a structure for the interaction between the new technologies of contemporary education and the culturally…

Explains the University of Minnesota Learning Software Design Competition, focusing on its goals and emphasis on innovation. Describes the review process to evaluate and judge the software, lists the winners, identifies a new class of educational software, and outlines plans for future competitions. (Author/LRW)

Reviews "The Silk Code" (novel by Paul Levinson, Professor of Communications, New York University) that encourages questions about how to choose and use the full range of technology; and compares and applies its ideas to current practices in educational technology. Topics include divergent views in educational theory; and examples of the…