Weather: The Ultimate Book of Meteorological Events is a compilation of some of the most spectacular weather photography and writing in the world.

The field of design research has been gaining momentum over the last five years, particularly in educational studies. As papers and articles have grown in number, definition of the domain is now beginning to standardise. This book fulfils a growing need by providing a synthesised assessment of the use of development research in education. It looks at four main elements: background information including origins, definitions of development research, description of applications and benefits and risks associated with studies of this kind how the approach can serve the design of learning environments and educational technology quality assurance - how to safeguard academic rigor while conducting design and development studies a synthesis and overview of the topic along with relevant reflections.

AECT Design & Development Outstanding Book Award for 2008! Design and Development Research thoroughly discusses methods and strategies appropriate for conducting design and development research. Rich with examples and explanations, the book describes actual strategies that researchers have used to conduct two major types of design and development research: 1) product and tool research and 2) model research. Common challenges confronted by researchers in the field when planning and conducting a study are explored and procedural explanations are supported by a wide variety of examples taken from current literature. Samples of actual research tools are also presented. Important features in this volume include: concise checklists at the end of each chapter to give a clear summary of the steps involved in the various phases of a project; an examination of the critical types of information and data often gathered in studies, and unique procedures for collecting these data; examples of data collection instruments, as well as the use of technology in data collection; and a discussion of the process of extracting meaning from data and interpreting product and tool and model research findings. Design and Development Research is appropriate for both experienced researchers and those preparing to become researchers. It is intended for scholars interested in planning and conducting design and development research, and is intended to stimulate future thinking about methods, strategies, and issues related to the field.

Multimedia-Based Instructional Design is a thoroughly revised and updated second edition of the best-selling book that provided a complete guide to designing and developing interactive multimedia training. While most training companies develop their training programs in many different technological delivery media—computer-based, web-based, and distance learning technologies—this unique book demonstrates that the same instructional design process can be used for all media. Using just one process reduces cycle time for course development—and also reduces costs.

Don’t leave course design to trial and error. Is trial and error a key pathway to instructional systems design (ISD)? Does success come only to experienced designers with expert instincts? Prior to the 2000 publication of ISD From the Ground Up, it certainly appeared that way to instructional designers just learning the ropes. Chuck Hodell set out to change that. Known as “the man who wrote the book on ISD—literally,” Hodell developed a comprehensive and practical handbook on core ISD practices and principles with a practitioner’s eye. His definitive guide is an industry staple currently found on the bookshelves of experienced instructional designers and university students alike. This updated fourth edition covers all the basics and many advanced tenets important to working professionals, especially those entering the field. Stand-alone chapters offer crucial support to practitioners building foundational skills, while in-depth tutorials and rich insights guide the credentialed designer. At a time when skillful curriculum development is valued more than ever, ISD From the Ground Up offers a refresher on objectives, design plans, lesson plans, and even what it takes to facilitate a focus group. Updated with new chapters and an expanded glossary of terms, it delves into skills and practices essential to the success of today’s in-demand curriculum developer.

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Learning Objects for Instruction shows how practical models of learning objects solutions are being applied in education, organizations, industry, and the military. It includes diverse strategies used across these groups to apply learning objects -- from the use of firmly-grounded theoretical contexts to practical tool-based solutions. The reader will find a thorough history, solid models and real-world practices for using learning objects for instruction in a variety of settings. Greater numbers of organizations are expected to embrace the use of objects for instruction as issues of standardization continue to be worked out.