Interactive Videodisc Instruction in Pre-Calculus

The interactive videodisc player, managed by a microcomputer, combines the unique instructional qualities of video with the interactive flexibility of the computer. This article reports on the design considerations involved in the development of a series of eight interactive videodisc modules in pre-calculus mathematics. This system, entitled Preparing for Calculus, takes advantage of the unique attributes of each component of the system. The materials provide systematic instruction along dimensions that teachers often have difficulty implementing in classroom situations, but which have been demonstrated to be effective in mathematics instruction. Preliminary field test results indicate that the materials are highly effective, both for review and for initial learning of new concepts and operations.