Intelligent Frameworks for Instructional Design

J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Vol. 32, No. 10 (1992) pp. 21–27

Presents a taxonomy describing various uses of artificial intelligence techniques in automated instructional development systems. Instructional systems development is discussed in relation to the design of computer-based instructional courseware;...

A Methodology for Assessing Learning in Complex and Ill-Structured Task Domains

J Michael Spector

Innovations in Education and Teaching International Vol. 43, No. 2 (May 2006) pp. 109–120

New information and communications technologies and research in cognitive science have led to new ways to think about and implement learning environments. Among these new approaches to instruction and new methods to support learning and performance...

Philosophical Implications for the Design of Instruction

J Michael Spector

Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences Vol. 29, No. 4 (2001) pp. 381–402

Discuses the relationship between philosophy and learning theory and explores implications for instructional design. Highlights include epistemology and ontology; historical trends in philosophy; philosophy and instructional science; and a...

Trends and Research Issues in Educational Technology

J. Michael Spector

Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 1, No. 3 (2013) pp. 1–9

If one looks back at the last 50 years or so at educational technologies, one will notice several things. First, the pace of innovation has increased dramatically with many developments in the application of digital technologies to learning and...

The Role of Epistemology in Instructional Design

J Michael Spector

Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences Vol. 26, No. 3 (1998) pp. 193–203

Analyzes claims with regard to GTE's (Generic Tutoring Environment) epistemological foundations and suggests that GTE's assumptions reveal a reductionist bias through the use of formalism. Implications for courseware design and instructional...

The Changing Nature of Educational Technology Programs

J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Vol. 55, No. 2 (2015) pp. 19–25

The many changes in educational technologies have been well documented in both the professional and popular literature. What is less well documented is the changing nature of programs that prepare individuals for careers in the broad multi...

Knowledge Management Tolls for Instructional Design

J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 50, No. 4 (2002) pp. 37–46

Discusses knowledge management systems (KMS) and their application to instructional design. Highlights include a history of computing and instructional systems; computer-supported collaborative work environments; object-oriented systems; reusability;...

Ethics in Educational Technology: Towards a Framework for Ethical Decision Making in and for the Discipline

J. Michael Spector

Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 64, No. 5 (2016) pp. 1003–1011

This special issue of "ETR&D" is devoted to ethics in the broad domain of educational technology. Many ethical issues arise involving the study and use of educational technologies. A well-known issue involves the digital divide and the ...

Remarks on MOOCS and Mini-MOOCS

J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 62, No. 3 (June 2014) pp. 385–392

In an earlier issue of "ETR&D," the editors provided an hierarchical framework of components to support learning and instruction. That hierarchy included information objects, knowledge objects, learning objects, instructional objects,...

Prioritization of Online Instructor Roles: Implications for Competency-Based Teacher Education Programs

Jyoti Bawane; J Michael Spector

Distance Education Vol. 30, No. 3 (November 2009) pp. 383–397

Online instructors need to take on a multi-dimensional role and to be an effective online educator they are required to possess a varied and wider range of competencies. Preparing teachers for online education involves preparing them for a wide...

Effects of Model-Centered Instruction on Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Engagement with Ill-Structured Problem Solving

Jeongmin Lee; J Michael Spector

Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences Vol. 40, No. 3 (May 2012) pp. 537–557

The goals of this study were to investigate the timing and the mechanism by which two types of model-centered instruction (MCI)--expert modeling (EM) and self-guided modeling (SGM)--might be made increasingly effective, efficient, and engaging for...

Evaluating Automated Instructional Design Systems: A Complex Problem

Begona Gros; J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Vol. 34, No. 5 (1994) pp. 37–46

Provides a conceptual framework for evaluating Automated Instructional Design (AID) and Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) systems. Evaluation systems including personal, pedagogical, product-oriented, user-oriented, and context-oriented methods...

The Advanced Instructional Design Advisor

Daniel J. Muraida; J Michael Spector

Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences Vol. 21, No. 4 (1993) pp. 239–53

Describes the Advanced Instructional Design Advisor, an Air Force project which involves the development and testing of automated instructional design guidance for use by Air Force technical training specialists in the development of computer-based...

Creating Engaging Courseware Using System Dynamics

Pal I. Davidsen; J Michael Spector

Computers in Human Behavior Vol. 13, No. 2 (1997) pp. 127–55

System dynamics has been shown to be an effective tool in managing the complexities of domains that involve complex structures. A framework is suggested for using system dynamic tools and technologies as the basis for constructing highly engaging...

Challenges for Educational Technologists in the 21st Century

Robin Mayes; Gloria Natividad; J. Michael Spector

Education Sciences Vol. 5, No. 3 (2015) pp. 221–237

In 1972, Edsger Dijkstra claimed that computers had only introduced the new problem of learning to use them effectively. This is especially true in 2015 with regard to powerful new educational technologies. This article describes the challenges that ...

Formative Assessment in Complex Problem-Solving Domains: The Emerging Role of Assessment Technologies

Kaushal Kumar Bhagat; J. Michael Spector

Journal of Educational Technology & Society Vol. 20, No. 4 (2017) pp. 312–317

Much of the focus on learning technologies has been on structuring innovative learning experiences and on managing distance and hybrid learning environments. This article focuses on the use of technology as an important formative assessment and...

A Review of Two Distance Learning Books [book review]

Tiffany A. Koszalka; J Michael Spector

Evaluation and Program Planning Vol. 26, No. 2 (2003)

Reviews two books that are representative of the substantive books aimed at those who wish to design effective distance learning. Together these books provide a reasonably complete perspective on how to design effective distance learning. They have...

Preliminary Recommendations Regarding Preparation of Teachers and School Leaders to Use Learning Technologies

Glen Bull; J. Michael Spector; Kay Persichitte

Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 17, No. 1 (March 2017) pp. 1–9

A national symposium on the role of efficacy research in the development, adoption, and implementation of educational technology will take place in 2017. The Educational Technology Efficacy Research symposium represents the culmination of a year...

Highly Integrated Model Assessment Technology and Tools

Pablo Pirnay-Dummer; Dirk Ifenthaler; J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 58, No. 1 (February 2010) pp. 3–18

Effective and efficient measurement of the development of skill and knowledge, especially in domains of human activity that involve complex and challenging problems, is important with regard to workplace and academic performance. However, there has...

Remarks on the Variety and Significance of Advanced Learning Technologies

Demetrios G. Sampson; J Michael Spector; Vladan Devedzic; Kinshuk

Educational Technology & Society Vol. 7, No. 2 (2004) pp. 14–18

This paper provides a reflective overview of the eight papers collected in this special issue of "Educational, Technology and Society" that is based on ICALT-2003. We provide a very brief description of the conference and then discuss the eight...

Providing Novice Instructional Designers Real-World Experiences: The PacifiCorp Design and Development Competition

MJ Bishop; Dan Schuch; J Michael Spector; Monica W. Tracey

TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning Vol. 49, No. 2 (2005) pp. 20–21

According to the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (ibstpi) new technologies and methods have made instructional design practice more complex and sophisticated today than it was in the early years of the...

Reflections on Preparing Educators to Evaluate the Efficacy of Educational Technology: An Interview with Joseph South

Glen Bull; J. Michael Spector; Kay Persichitte; Ellen Meiers

Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 17, No. 1 (March 2017) pp. 11–16

Joseph South an educational researcher, technology consultant, and former director of the U.S. Office of Educational Technology provided oversight for development of the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan and the related Educational...

The Open University of Indonesia and Florida State University: Communication, Collaboration, and the Important Work of Training Teachers

Thomas F. Luschei; Dewi Padmo; J Michael Spector

TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning Vol. 53, No. 1 (January 2009) pp. 20–22

Since the summer of 2006, faculty from the Florida State University (FSU) College of Education and Learning Systems Institute and the Open University of Indonesia (Universitas Terbuka, or UT) have worked together to strengthen UT's distance teacher...

Intentionality and Wisdom in Language, Information, and Technology

Lin Lin; Haj Ross; Brian O'Connor; J Michael Spector

Educational Technology Vol. 55, No. 5 (2015) pp. 35–39

An interdisciplinary approach from linguistics, information sciences, learning sciences, and educational technology is used to explore the concept of information. Several key issues are highlighted, including: (1) learning language through meaning...

Design of a Dual-Mapping Learning Approach for Problem Solving and Knowledge Construction in Ill-Structured Domains

Bian Wu; Minhong Wang; J Michael Spector; Stephen J. H. Yang

Educational Technology & Society Vol. 16, No. 4 (2013) pp. 71–84

Problem solving has been increasingly used as an important approach to learning especially in ill-structured domains. It is assumed that knowledge can be better consolidated and extended through problem-solving experience. However, many learners do...

Connecting problem-solving and knowledge-construction processes in a visualization-based learning environment

Minhong Wang; Bian Wu; Kinshuk; Nian-Shing Chen; J. Michael Spector

Computers & Education Vol. 68, No. 1 (October 2013) pp. 293–306

Learning through problem solving has been widely adopted as an effective learning paradigm in challenging domains such as medical education. For effective learning through practical experience, problem solving and knowledge construction should be...

Language: English

Competences for Online Teaching: A Special Report

Peter Goodyear; Gilly Salmon; J Michael Spector; Christine Steeples; Sue Tickner

Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 49, No. 1 (2001) pp. 65–72

This article is a workshop report and exploration of interim outcomes related to the role and significance of online teachers and exposes a range of ways of understanding online teaching, including from competency, humanistic and cognitive...

Hong Kong Perspectives on Educational Technology Research and Practice

J Michael Spector; H K. Yuen; Minhong Wang; Daniel Churchill; Nancy Law

Educational Technology Vol. 54, No. 5 (2014) pp. 35–41

This is the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Association for Educational Communications and Technology (HKAECT; see http://www.hkaect.org/). The silver anniversary annual meeting will be held at the University of Hong Kong December 8--10, with the...

Design Issues in a Cross-Institutional Collaboration on a Distance Education Course

Xuemei Wang; John F. Dannenhoffer; Barry D. Davidson; J Michael Spector

Distance Education Vol. 26, No. 3 (November 2005) pp. 405–423

Collaborative learning has been gaining momentum as a promising pedagogy in higher education. Research on student collaboration is increasing. However, one arena is often overlooked--faculty collaboration. In this article, a cross-institutional...

Teacher beliefs and technology integration

ChanMin Kim; Min Kyu Kim; Chiajung Lee; J. Michael Spector; Karen DeMeester

Teaching and Teacher Education: An International Journal of Research and Studies Vol. 29, No. 1 (January 2013) pp. 76–85

The purpose of this exploratory mixed methods study was to investigate how teacher beliefs were related to technology integration practices. We were interested in how and to what extent teachers' (a) beliefs about the nature of knowledge and...

Language: English

Research on e-learning in the workplace 2000–2012: A bibliometric analysis of the literature

Bo Cheng; Minhong Wang; Anders I. Mørch; Nian-Shing Chen; Kinshuk; J. Michael Spector

Educational Research Review Vol. 11, No. 1 (January 2014) pp. 56–72

Research on e-learning in the workplace has proliferated over the past decade. Various topics on e-learning in workplace settings have emerged, showing the complex, dynamic and multi-disciplinary nature of the field. In this context, there is a need ...

Language: English

Systems Science

Alexander Christakis; Debora Hammond; Michael Jackson; Alexander Laszlo; Ian Mitroff; Dave Snowden; Len Troncale; Alison Carr-Chellman; J Michael Spector; Brent Wilson

Educational Technology Vol. 53, No. 5 (2013) pp. 64–78

Scholars representing the field of systems science were asked to identify what they considered to be the most exciting and imaginative work currently being done in their field, as well as how that work might change our understanding. The scholars...

Technology Enhanced Formative Assessment for 21st Century Learning

J. Michael Spector; Dirk Ifenthaler; Demetrios Sampson; Lan Yang; Evode Mukama; Amali Warusavitarana; Kulari Lokuge Dona; Koos Eichhorn; Andrew Fluck; Ronghuai Huang; Susan Bridges; Jiingyan Lu; Youqun Ren; Xiaoqing Gui; Christopher C. Deneen; Jonathan San Diego; David C. Gibson

Journal of Educational Technology & Society Vol. 19, No. 3 (2016) pp. 58–71

This paper is based on the deliberations of the Assessment Working Group at EDUsummIT 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand. All of the members of Thematic Working Group 5 (TWG5) have contributed to this synthesis of potentials, concerns and issues with regard...