Role of instructional theory in authoring effective and efficient learning technologies

摘要

This paper summarizes major issues in instructional theory and helps convey a better understanding of the advantages such theory offers for building intelligent instructional systems. Technology alone will not be sufficient for cost-effective development. Deeper understanding of the instructional process also will be essential. Taxonomic theory will not be sufficient for these purposes, however, nor will designer intuition. Good instructional theory must strive for comprehensiveness, internal consistency, parsimony and precision, and it must be operational. In this context, important advances have been made in instructional theory which hold considerable promise for the future. Building on core technology and the structural learning theory, a research program is proposed which will enable efficient development of effective learning systems for industries and schools.