Incorporating Learning Research into Instructional Program Design

Abstract

An interactive videodisc program on primates was developed to help upper elementary school students learn problem-solving skills as well as information about primates. The program is student-driven, encouraging the student to think like a scientist as he/she carries out a set of “missions” to study primates: making hypotheses, collecting observations, drawing conclusions, and solving problems. Each aspect of the program is based upon recent research in cognitive strategies and learning theory, as well as standard instructional design principles. Research indicates the advantages of presenting a theme and background information, structuring the material according to that schema, providing help when requested, and making feedback constructive. Teaching problem solving is, essentially, teaching students to think for themselves. This requires allowing students to work in teams to analyze the problem, conduct their own inquiry, and experience the satisfaction of a solution. Interactive videodisc offers several advantages for this type of project.

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