Media and learning: Are there two kinds of truth?

This article examines the assumptions and methods of conventional instructional media research to gauge its sufficiency as a basis for issuing the controversial finding that media do not influence learning and as an inquiry model for documenting media's educational effects generally. Examples of complex media effects are given and emerging media application paradigms are identified to support the argument that both a new conceptualization of the media and learning question and new approaches to its study are needed. An alternative values framework for guiding research on the effects of modern interactive technologies in complex learning environments is offered.     

High-tech instructional development: It's the thought that counts

Predictions that technology will soon bring about a revolution in teaching are now common. Some see this occurring as an inevitable result of the information storage and processing capabilities that new technologies possess; others believe that changes in values and technology application strategies will be more significant factors. This article argues that technologies affect education greatly by shaping attitudes about the nature of teaching and learning, and presents a simple model to illustrate this process. Also, it suggests that, to be effective advocates of the new technology, instructional developers must address the ideological dimensions of learning system design and make deliberate decisions regarding the educational values these designs are to embody.     

Developing a database of authoring system software

AuthorBase, a working prototype database of authoring system software, was developed as part of a study of authoring software conducted by the National Library of Medicine. In this article, the authors discuss development issues ranging from the scope of the database to what information to document. The prototype demonstrates that records of reasonable integrity can be derived from vendor-supplied information. However, users should understand that the database is only a starting point in searching for authoring software and a resource for becoming generally familiar with the technology.     

Environmental Education in Missouri

Abstract

One result of globalization is that more of what people consume comes from distant regions through complex transactions hidden from ordinary view. To illuminate such flows, scholars often trace commodity chains following one product from inception to sale. Although most of us cannot escape being involved in commodity chains, we can participate with greater or less responsibility. This article outlines the advantages of studying the coffee chain to understand its relationship to consumer choice and environmental issues.     

Correlates of Sport Participation among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Most research on the correlates of sport involvement has utilized male samples. The present study focuses on a sample of high school girl gymnasts, basketball players, track participants, and a control group of nonathletes. The correlates of participation investigated include familial factors, peers, teachers and coaches' encouragement to participate in sports, and the social psychological variables of perceived femininity, self-reported athletic ability, and body image. The findings indicate that socialization into sport begins in childhood and continues into high school with considerable encouragement from significant others. The basketball players reported somewhat less encouragement and tend to see themselves as less feminine than the other athletes. Athletes had higher self-perceptions of athletic ability than the nonathletes. The athletes' perceptions of their body image were generally more positive than the nonathletes. This latter finding suggests a reduction of stigma formerly associated with female involvement in sport.