Journal of Instructional Science and Technology ISSN: 1324-0781 Editors-in-Chief: Olugbemiro JEGEDE (jegede@ouhk.edu.hk) and Som NAIDU(s.naidu@meu.unimelb.edu.au)

Volume 1 No 1, October 1995
- - - Editorial - - -

Welcome to this premier issue of the electronic journal of Instructional Science and Technology (e-Jist). This journal offers us a platform for the discussion and dissemination of critical thought and information on the science and technology of instruction (i.e., teaching and learning). As such, the objective of this journal isunique in that it seeks to adopt an integrated approach to the discussion of issues related to teaching and learning. This approach includes a consideration of the theoretical perspectives as well as the technologies for the delivery of instructional content and learning enhancement. This view, in addition, seeks to propose that delivery technologies are in a position to influence teaching and learning significantly when these are carefully designed to serve particular instructional and learning outcomes. There are three papers in this premier issue. These were selected to reflect this unique orientation of this journal.

The first paper "Analysis of Information Repackaging Processes Using the Instructional systems Design Model" by Professor John Agada of the School of Library and Information Science at University of Wisconsin deals with the concept of Information Repackaging (IR) as a new library and information service which customises information to meet specific needs of users. IR adopts a systematic approach to service design through the processes of diagnosis, prescription, implementation and evaluation of information services. Professor Agada argues that in the absence of sufficient empirical evidence on the validity of this approach to IR, the systems approach offers the best possible framework for information repackaging which is essentially about repackaging information and its format to save time, labor and the costs for information retrieval by users. In the presence of increasing information at our hands these days, this seems to be a topical issue.

The second paper "Satellite Transmission for Education and Training" by Professor Ray Winders, Telematics Coordinator at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom deals with satellite transmission technology for education and training with particular references to the European Space Agency of the Olympus satellite. The paper reviews the developments and the advantages satellite-based educational transmissions with the recommendation that the new European Commission Fourth framework funding address the building of self-financing networks of users with a combination of technologies.

The third and final paper in this issue "A Comparison of Teaching Models in the West and in China" is by Zhang Ji-Ping of the Department of Educational Information Technology, East China Normal University in China and Professor Betty Collis of the Faculty of Educational Science and technology, University of Twente in the The Netherlands. This paper revisits the concept of models of teaching with the focus on differences between those commonly used in the western education system and in China. A taxonomy is developed and used for the purposes of this comparison aimed at (a) an improved understanding of Chinese and Western models of teaching; and (b) an understanding of how instructional approaches developed in the western tradition can be adapted for use in the Chinese context.

We hope that you will find the papers selected for this maiden issue of the Journal of Instructional Science and Technology invigorating reading.

Som Naidu and Olugbemiro Jegede