Collaborative Multi-professional Narrative Based e-learning. An application to teaching Medical Stat
The present paper describes e-CNA (e-Collaborative Narrative Analysis), a web based multi-agent environment where different agents contribute to the exploration and social co-construction of the meanings of a set of narratives. The paper also describes an action-research e-learning experiment aimed to involve the students of different courses and a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals in a blended online educational project on qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in hea
DRAC (Distributed Remote ACess system) An On-line Open Source Project-based Learning Tool
Project Based Learning is an essential component in modern engineering education. However, it is difficult to implement in a virtual simulation-based approach, and the need of expensive or specialized equipment can make difficult to use this PBL approach in remote learning. In this paper, a web-based portal is presented; it allows remote access to the resources of several PBL laboratories on Electronics, with a significant emphasis on real-time digital and analog processing and multidisciplinary
The Influence of Game Features on Collaborative Gaming: A Process-oriented approach
Game technology and design are creating powerful collaborative gaming experiences that can be exploited pedagogically. Building on a research trends from various fields, a process-oriented model is adopted to evaluate the instructional potential of games, considering both their surface and deep structure. Two experimental approaches are adopted. Through reflective evaluation the Neurocognitive skills employed, Perceived Competence Facilitation and Perceived usefulness of games are determ
Goal Configurations and Processing Strategies as Moderators Between Instructional Design and Cogniti
In this article, we propose some augmentations of cognitive load theory (CLT) inspired by evidence from hypertext-based instruction. In particular, we focus on the role of goal configurations and processing strategies as moderators between instructional design and cognitive load. First, we describe pivotal assumptions of CLT and conceptual shortcomings related to these assumptions. Second, we review evidence from our own hypertext-based research that gives reasons for integrating configurations
Toward Cognitive Tutoring in a Collaborative, Web-Based Environment
A potentially powerful way to aid in the authoring of intelligent tutoring systems is to directly leverage student interaction log data. While problem-solving data has been used in the past to guide the development of tutors, such data has not been used as a means to directly construct an initial tutoring system model. We propose an approach called bootstrapping novice data (BND) in which a problem-solving tool is integrated with tutor development software through log files and that integration
"What I think works well...": Learners evaluation and actual usage of online tools
This paper will describe and analyse data gathered during a pilot language course run fully online and based on a Moodle VLE. The new online tools, whether as part of an integrated VLE or separately, lend themselves to reflective learning (e.g. blogs) or collaborative group activities (e.g. wikis). This case study of two learners is based on the project CyberDeutsch at the Department of Languages of the Open University, a five week, intensive German course offered to self-selected intermedia
Effective Teaching and Learning: Using ICT
Findings and recommendations on effective teaching practice - with the aim of providing material for improving the quality of teaching and learning and for informing developments in initial teacher education and continuing development.,Research report for NRDC
The use of a computerized brain atlas to support knowledge-based training in radiology
Trainers of radiologists face the particular challenges of teaching normal and abnormal appearance for a variety of imaging modalities, providing access to a large appropriately-indexed case library, and teaching a consistent approach to the reporting of cases. The computer has the potential to address these issues, to supplement conventional teaching of radiology by providing case-based tutoring and diagnostic support based on a large library of images of normal and abnormal anatomy, fully desc
A Framework System for Intelligent Support in Open Distributed Learning Environments
Recent trends in the design of learning support systems are characterized by considering group interaction, by combining intelligent support with interactive learning environments, by providing reusable domain-independent components, and by using agent-structured architectures. Taking these trends into account, an open framework system has been developed for integrating distributed intelligent support components with an interactive and collaborative learning environment. Work in shared activity
Supporting Learners Appropriation of a Web-Based Learning Curriculum
This article presents an approach and tools that can help learners appropriate a Web-based learning curriculum and become active participants in their learning. The approach is based on a detailed modeling of the curriculum and intends to equip the learners with different computer-based tools facilitating a multiple point of view perception of the curriculum, while promoting self evaluation and self regulation of the learners curriculum performance. The proposed architecture is generic and can
Δραστηριότητες Μοντελοποίησης με χρήση Η/Υ στη Βθμια
Η εργασία αυτή επιχειρεί να αναδείξει την επιστημολογική αξία των μοντέλων, το
ρόλο των Η/Υ στη σύγχρονη επιστημονική μοντελοποίηση και τις δυνατότητες διδακτικής
αξιοποίησής τους. Σημειώνεται η έλλειψη σαφούς ανάδειξης της έννοιας του μοντέλου στη
διδασκαλία των θετικώ
Situational knowledge in physics: The case of electrodynamics
Major difficulties for a novice physics problem solver are how to interpret new problems and how to combine information given in the problem with information already known. A domain expert, by contrast, has the knowledge to take full advantage of problem features at a glance. It takes a long period of practice to acquire such situational knowledge, and it would be desirable for this to be taught more effectively. As a first step, this requires information on how situational knowledge differs acr
Collaboration Load
Does collaboration increase or decrease cognitive load during learning? On one hand, collaboration enables some degree of division of labour that may reduce cognitive load. On the other hand since interacting, expressing thoughts, monitoring anothers understanding, grounding, etc., are mechanisms inducing some extraneous cognitive load, they may create cognitive overload and impede learning mechanisms. However this additional load may explain why collaboration sometimes leads to knowledge cons
Mechanisms of common ground in case-based web-discussions in teacher education
Previous studies suggest that before the participants in Web-based conferencing can reach deeper level interaction and learning, they have to gain an adequate level of common ground in terms of shared mutual understanding, knowledge, beliefs, assumptions, and presuppositions (Clark & Schaefer, 1989; Dillenbourg, 1999). In this paper, the main purpose is to explore how participants establish and maintain common ground in order to reach deeper level interaction in case-based Web-discussions. The s
Supporting Effective and Useful Web-based Distance Learning
Learners interacting in a Web-based distance learning environment produce a variety of information elements during their participation; these information elements usually have a complex structure and semantics, which makes it rather difficult to find out the behavioral attitudes and profiles of the users involved. User modelling in on-line distance learning is an important research field focusing on two important aspects: describing and predicting students actions and intentions as well as ada
A Grid-aware Implementation for Providing Effective Feedback to On-line Learning Groups
Constantly providing feedback to on-line learning teams is a challenging yet one of the latest and most attractive issues to influence learning experience in a positive manner. The possibility to enhance learning groups participation by means of providing appropriate feedback is rapidly gaining popularity due to its great impact on group performance and outcomes. Indeed, by storing parameters of interaction such as participation behaviour and giving constant feedback of these parameters to the
Giving teachers a hand(book) to develop ict-enhanced skills
Shared web-based knowledge bases, enriched with the possibilities of discussing about their content and of proposing new one, seem to offer the opportunity to diffuse pedagogical innovation. To this aim, the knowledge base should enable teachers to put their own ideas at colleagues disposal; and moreover, to improve their pedagogical knowledge by availing themselves of colleagues proposals and suggestions. Thus, personal growth evolves in shared knowledge and vice-versa, facilitating the for
Verbal and Nonverbal communication in computer mediated settings
The paper discusses the verbal and nonverbal communication during a video-recorded meeting between two physically separate teams as part of a 9 month multi-site construction project. In the extract analysed here, the team which was video-recorded contained three members and the project coordinator, whereas the remote team contained a single individual. Communication between the two teams was by means of telephone and shared computer meeting system. The video-recorded team used nonverbal communic
Methodological Issues in the Content Analysis of Computer Conference Transcripts
This paper discusses the potential and the methodological challenges of analyzing computer conference transcripts using quantitative content analysis. The paper is divided into six sections, which discuss: criteria for content analysis, research designs, types of content, units of analysis, ethical issues, and software to aid analysis. The discussion is supported with a survey of 19 commonly referenced studies published during the last decade. The paper is designed to assist researchers in using
ZAPs: Using interactive programs for learning psychology
ZAPs are short, self-contained computer programs that encourage students to experience psychological phenomena in a vivid, self-explanatory way, and that are meant to evoke enthousiasm about psychological topics. ZAPs were designed according to principles that originate from experiential and discovery learning theories. The interactive approach that is offered invites students to engage in subject matter through exploration, experience, and discovery of psychology. In an empirical study the effe
