Models of hypertext structure and learning

The dominant conception of the hypertext form is a medium for information retrieval rather than learning, and where learning is considered, it is usually only of a fairly rudimentary form. An important question is whether the ‘control’ given to the hypertext user may be merely illusory, since the fragmenting effect of the non-linear text forms can make it more difficult for the reader to perceive an author’s intended argument structure. The artefacts introduced by the hypertext form, in order to improve accessibility, mitigate against its use as the principal teaching medium. It is suggested that designers of hypertext materials might usefully adopt some of the supposed constraints of the linear text form, and that until various problems have been overcome, hypertext might best be used to supplement rather than supplant printed materials for many learning purposes.