RESEARCH ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A SELF-CUSTOMIZING AUTHORING SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

ALTHOUGH MARKET DEMAND IS HIGH AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE COST SAVINGS EXIST, YOUR BOTTLENECKS TO USING MICROCOMPUTER ADMINISTRATIVE/IMS PACKAGES ARE: (A) THE INABILITY OF "CANNED" PACKAGES TO MEET SPECIFIC LEA NEEDS; AND (B) THE HIGH COST OF PACKAGES CUSTOMIZED BY DEVELOPERS TO MEET LEA NEEDS. USER-FRIENDLY MINI-AUTHORING PROGRAMS OFFER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEA'S TO CUSTOMIZE GENERAL PACKAGES TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS AT LOW COSTS. NO ONE HAS FIELD-TESTED THE FEASIBILITY OF CLIENT-CUSTOMIZED ADMINISTRATIVE APPLICATIONS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, INCLUDING SUCH ELEMENTS AS: (A) THE LEVEL OF LEA STAFF COMPETENCIES REQUIRED; (B) PRIORITY AREAS REQUIRING CUSTOMIZATION; (C) THE STATE-OFTHE-ART OF MINI-AUTHORING PROGRAMS WHICH WOULD ALLOW CLIENT CUSTOMIZATION; AND (D) THE UTILITY OF SUCH PACKAGES TO LEA'S. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF CLIENT-CUSTOMIZED ADMINISTRATIVE/ INSTRUCTIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. EDUCATION TURNKEY SYSTEMS, INC., A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN STUDIES OF P.L. 94-142 AT THE LEA LEVEL, HAS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED NUMEROUS SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIVE/IMS PACKAGES SINCE 1979.