ABSTRACT
The innovations in education using the new possibilities of information and communication technology, such as interaction and multimedia, involves a complex process with many impediments. Information technology provides learning situations that give students more control. This coincides with a shift in paradigm from a teacher-oriented to a more student-oriented learning approach that many educational institutions are already willing to adopt. However, changing both the learning approach as well as the means to support it increases the complexity of the design and implementation process. The limited knowledge of the relationship between instruction, learning and learning technologies further hinders an efficient and effective design of learning applications. However, based on qualitative analyses it can be stated that learning applications do seem to favour active learning behaviour and promote the development of skills that will be needed in the future. Multidisciplinary development teams, applying a principled design approach, and strong user involvement are key factors for success. It is expected that the development of a framework for evaluation and ongoing research in cognitive science and instructional design will in, the longer term, provide education with more guidelines for the effective implementation of information technology. In addition to this, the new generation of software tools that facilitates the development process of electronic learning environments will have a positive impact on teachers who are striving to overcome the impediments and change their teaching courses into learning environments.
