The Process of Change in Education: Moving from Descriptive to Prescriptive Research

The book presents models that are suitable for managing a teaching system. These models grew and were modified based on dozens of field studies that were carried out within the framework of the 'Distance Learning Laboratory' at Bar-Ilan University. Researches carried out by the research team attempted to identify and define variables that are significant and essential for activation of learning systems. Within this framework they tried to define various goals of learning and methods for activating learning systems. The relation between the method and the learning goal enabled them to try to define the teacher's role and contribution, and the role of the technological system. Each goal requires a different method and the teacher's role and the role of the technological system are different for each goal. Complete harmony and co-ordination exists between the goal of learning, the teaching method, the teacher's role and the role of the technological systems. Educated and accurate integration of these factors will lead to the achievement of the learning goals. The effectiveness of learning is determined by the extent to which it succeeded in achieving the learning goals.