How Can the Use of Hypermedia Environments Support the Developmental Needs of Adolescents...

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Creative expression. School curricula should reflect the range of physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development of adolescents and should provide students with opportunities to express creatively their feelings, interests, abilities, and thoughts. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments provide opportunities for creative expression through the use of applied activities and independent projects for individuals or small groups.

Self-exploration and self-definition. Adolescents need opportunities to try new things in safe settings, available resources for finding out more about themselves and others, and an understanding of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments encourage students to explore their widening world, create personal meaning and understanding, and pursue answers to their own questions as well as their teachers’.

Competence and achievement. Programs should be designed so students at different levels can be successful. Students should be rewarded if they succeed but not devastated if they fail. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments increase the likelihood that students, guided by teachers sensitive to the need to match student interests and reading levels, will be given multiple opportunities for increased independence and responsibility.

Positive social interaction with peers and adults. Adolescents need opportunities to develop social skills through group learning activities and interaction with peers and adults. Adolescents also need relationships with adults who are willing to share their own experiences, views, values, and feelings with young people. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments encourage peer and adult interaction in a variety of positive ways.

Meaningful participation in the workings of classrooms and schools. Adolescents should be encouraged to offer their opinions about rules or procedures, asked to contribute ideas, and then take responsibility for making things better. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments allow learning activities to be planned with, not for, adolescents, thereby extending student knowledge and competencies.

Structure and clear limits. The school and classroom are places where students should be productive and organized. Students need rules and schedules, but ones they have a role in framing that give them some freedom. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments help establish a context in which clearly stated rules and expectations are generally accepted and understood by students.

Physical activity. Adolescents need to move around frequently, including during class periods, instead of sitting passively for long stretches of time. Utilizing and/or creating hypermedia environments provide time and structured outlets for the physical energy of adolescents by using multiple teaching approaches—whole class and small groups, pairs, individual work, and independent projects.