ABSTRACT
Learning via computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has increased dramatically in both academic and nonacademic settings such as the military, business, and industry. The component, Task, in the CAI framework includes additional aspects of a task that require analysis, such as the nature of the materials and the mode of presentation. A systems approach to instructional design is perhaps the best known and most widely followed procedure and is even recommended for designing CAI. Environmental differences between CAI and traditional instruction also influence instruction. In traditional classrooms, students are familiar with the mechanics of studying, such as how to review or how to correct errors. Appropriate use of computers for instruction involves more than a transfer from traditional instruction with a few "bells and whistles" for motivation. It requires attention to the ways in which learning is affected by differences between interpersonal and human-machine interaction.
