To the Postpositivist researcher or teacher, language is a transparent medium for communicating information about external reality, Willis said. Language is a mirror of reality and is used to describe external reality. Interpretivists, on the other hand, hold that language cannot and does not mirror reality. Meaning is socially created and carries a shared, socially-constructed view of the world. In other words, meaning is developed collaboratively.
Meaning comes from context and groups decide what words mean.
Meaning in language is created through reactions. In designing instruction, the Postpositivist early on creates precise Behavioral objectives. Content experts who have special knowledge are critical to good instructional development. Instructional development favors drill and practice, tutorial, and other direct instruction methods. Computers take on the roles performed by traditional teachers as well as the roles of information deliverer, evaluator and record keeper.