Expert/novice research suggests that prospective teachers' preparation needs improvement in four areas: pedagogical content knowledge, knowledge of the learner, organization and management skills, and planning and improvisation in instruction. A description is provided of how hypermedia teachnology is being used in content methods courses in Vanderbilt University's elementary teacher education program to achieve these improvements in preservice teacher education. Evaluation data indicate that use of video examples in the mathematics methods courses influenced the way preservice teachers taught mathematics.The educational reform movement of the early 1980s generated a series of reports and recommendations calling for change in the curriculum, goals, and instructional approaches in our nation's schools (Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy, 1986; Education Commission of the States, 1984; National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983). These recommendations were soon followed by standards and guidelines from the subject areas (e.

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12 13 Manuscript (non-LaTeX) Click here to download Manuscript (non-LaTeX) Revised_Manuscript_Hogan_round4_BEM.docx 2 Capsule 14 Scenario-based focus groups tested NWS forecast and warning products for riverine flood 15 events. Revisions to the products (color, geographic specificity, reduced text) improved reader 16 comprehension and motivation to act. 17 Abstract 18 Given the constant bombardment of weather information in different formats and time frames 19 with different levels of certainty, how does an important message make an impact? For 20 weather and river forecast offices, this is a pressing question given a likely future of increasing 21 high-impact storm events. These offices need to quickly and effectively motivate public 22 response to impending events such as flooding. Currently, communication of flood potential is 23 accomplished through a suite of forecast and warning products, including river hydrographs, 24 precipitation forecasts, and flood watches and warnings. Despite advances in forecast accuracy 25 and lead time, people fail to respond to warnings and often suffer substantial damages and loss 26 of property. To understand how the public uses and interprets National Weather Service (NWS) 27 flood products, an extreme storm scenario was presented using NWS forecast products in a 28 series of focus groups in the Delaware River Basin (PA/NJ). Findings from the sessions informed 29 revisions of the products to which participants reported increased understanding and 30 motivation to take action. Participants demonstrated a strong preference for river level