ABSTRACT
The term 'communication style' is a general expression for the way systems are designed in order for learners to interact or communicate with them. Several styles have been defined as standards but often a mixture of styles is employed. The communication standards which are important to computer-based learning materials are: commands, menus, question and answer, form fill, direct manipulation, and natural language. For computer-based learning systems it is important to realize that the communication style has the potential to aid or hinder the effectiveness of the material. Many traditional approaches are limited to the tutor addressing a group of learners with few opportunities for a genuine two-way dialogue. Computer-based learning has the important potential to provide one-to-one individualized instruction. A computer-based learning product could use a form fill style to register learners, menus and direct manipulation to communicate with the tutorial, question and answer to provide help and guidance, and commands to control a small integrated simulation.
