THE INTERACTIVE VIDEODISC AND ITS APPLICATION TO INSTRUCTION AND THE READING CURRICULUM

The interactive videodisc is a new communications medium which has great potential for many areas and levels of education. Its advanced technical capabilities such as slow motion, freeze-frame, random access, scan forward and reverse and dual sound track present opportunities for a wide variety of innovative educational programming. The descriptive research of this dissertation describes how the videodisc can be used as a classroom supplement to assist students in the learning process in general and reading readiness in particular. When attached to a microcomputer, the videodisc becomes interactive. This greatly enhances learning because of the videodisc's ability to teach and immediately reinforce, remediate and evaluate on an individualized basis. These features also enable the videodisc to serve as an important diagnostic tool and can help in determining a student's total learning profile. In addition to uses for standard instruction in elementary, secondary and two- and four-year colleges, the videodisc has valuable application for bilingual, special, vocational and continuing education programs as well as study-at-home courses. As the findings of this study indicate, the videodisc could make a significant contribution to the future of education. However, if the videodisc is to receive wide acceptance several specific steps must be taken in the near future or it is unlikely that the videodisc will develop to its complete potential. Most important among these is the investigation of the dynamics of videodisc technology and its acceptance and incorporation into existing curricula.