Ed-Media 99 Keynote: Thomas Reeves

June 23
A Research Agenda for Interactive Learning in the New Millennium
Thomas C. Reeves, The University of Georgia, USA

During the past three decades, hundreds of research studies have been conducted to investigate interactive learning in a variety of forms ranging from the earliest days of mainframe-based computer-assisted instruction to contemporary multimedia learning environments accessible via the World Wide Web. In light of this body of research, some researchers believe that we are on the verge of developing a true instructional science whereas others conclude that we simply cannot pile up generalizations fast enough to adapt our interactive designs to the myriad of variables inherent in human learning. In this presentation, I'll summarize what we know and what we don't know about interactive learning, describe the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to interactive learning research, and conclude by proposing a research agenda for the first decade of the new millennium.

Thomas C. Reeves
The University of Georgia
http://itech1.coe.uga.edu

Thomas C. Reeves is a professor of instructional technology at The University of Georgia where he teaches program evaluation, multimedia design, and research courses. Since receiving his Ph.D. at Syracuse University in 1979, he has developed and evaluated numerous interactive multimedia programs for both education and training. In addition to more than 100 presentations and workshops in the USA, he has been an invited speaker in other countries including Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, Malaysia, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan. He is a past president of the Association for the Development of Computer-based Instructional Systems (ADCIS) and a former Fulbright Lecturer. In 1995, he was selected as one of the "Top 100" people in multimedia by Multimedia Producer magazine, and in 1997, he became the editor of the Journal of Interactive Learning Research.

Dr. Reeves' research interests include:

- evaluation of instructional technology for education and training,

- socially responsible research goals and methods in education,

- mental models and interactive multimedia user interface issues,

- electronic performance support systems (EPSS), and

- applications of instructional technology in developing countries.

Recent and on-going projects include:

- member of the Scientific Panel on Interactive Consumer Health Information for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

- evaluation of networked digital multimedia developed by Interactive Media Laboratory at Dartmouth Medical School,

- development of an EPSS for training developers for NCR Corporation (awarded U.S. Patent in 1997), and

- founding member of the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory (LPSL) at The University of Georgia.