Television and its lower cost alternatives, a summary of research

THE RESULTS OF A STUDY COMPRISING 11 REPORTS ON THE USE OF MEDIA FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS SUMMARY WHICH CAUTIONS THAT NO SINGLE MEDIA CAN SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS. IT ADVISES THAT LEARNING IS MORE DEPENDENT ON THE USE OF A MEDIUM RATHER THAN THE TYPE. MEDIA TYPES DISCUSSED ARE TELEVISION, COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION, FILM, RADIO, PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTION, FILMSTRIPS, SLIDES, TRANSPARENCIES AND AUDIOTAPES. THE REPORT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT"S LEARNING AND COST ANALYSES AND A DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN THE FIELD. THE FIELD PROJECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF ONE OF FOUR GOALS: 1) TO REFORM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, 2) TO EXTEND FORMAL SCHOOLING TO PREVIOUSLY UNREACHED POPULATIONS, 3) TO ENRICH REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND 4) TO EXTEND THE PROGRAMS OUTSIDE THE FORMAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, USUALLY TO ADULTS. THE APPENDIX SUMMARIZES THE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THREE MEXICAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND TWO INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION PROJECTS IN AMERICAN SAMOA.