| Computers have been used quite extensively in higher education for some years, particularly for computer-based simulations, computer-aided instruction, problem-solving exercises and computer self-assessment programmes. One area, however, that has developed slowly is electronic textbooks. Printed texts remain the primary required "resource" in most college courses. Recent advances in hardware, software, and concepts may lead to wider use of electronic textbooks.;The focus of this dissertation was the creation of an interactive video-case based instructional package, An Electronic Textbook on Instructional Technology (ET-IT). ET-IT provides a supportive environment for teaching. The content selected for this prototype electronic textbook was taken from material normally covered in an introductory course on educational technology for preservice teachers. This dissertation documents the process of designing, developing, and evaluating ET-IT.;The structional design model that guided the process of creating ET-IT and that provided the framework for recursive formative evaluation was Willis' (1995) Recursive, Reflective, Design and Development Model (R2D2). The resulting software program will be a product reflecting their shared vision that emerged from the ID process.;The R2D2 model includes a research methodology that is based on a qualitative and participatory approach that is recursive. Essentially, experts, end users, and other team members critiqued the developing product through a series of develop-evaluate-revise cycles. Several formats have been used for the critiques including interviews, observations, debriefings, and questionnaires. The goal was to create a prototype that would demonstrate features and formats that could be incorporated into electronic textbooks in many different subject areas. This instructional package was successfully produced and, according to the stakeholders, fulfills its purpose of being serving as an example of how a hypertext/hypermedia college textbook could be structured. The model and the general approach could be used to develop many other electronic textbooks for other areas in education.;As the review of the literature indicates, there are very few electronic textbooks currently available in any field. In the area of technology and teacher education, only one electronic textbook is available. An electronic textbook does seem to hold considerable promise of meeting some of the instructional needs in a preservice "educational computing" course. |
