Portfolios and ICT as means of professional learning in teacher education
Teaching portfolios supported by new learning technologies have increased in importance in Norwegian schools and teacher education. However, the learning potentials of integrated e-portfolios have still to be researched and further developed. This article focuses on professional learning in a teacher education programme reorganised by use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), teaching portfolios and assessment. Findings reveal that the portfolios have prompted professional learning
Digital case methodology: A study of student teachers' co-construction of professional knowledge
Case pedagogy has a growing position in inquiry oriented teacher education programmes as means of bridging gaps between every-day and professional conceptions of teaching and learning and enhancing contextual and collaborative learning. The paper look at how a CSCL environment may enforce and improve collective thinking and professional reflection by the use of a cased based learning model in pre-service teacher education. The study is based on computer-supported learning resources developed at
Categorisation in Knowledge building
In this paper we explore how students talk and reason when they were exposed to a set of
categories taken from scientific discourse. The scientific categories are built into a web-based discussion forum (Fle) as part of a pedagogical and technological design. The scientific categories are based on the concepts of the progressive inquiry model for knowledge building. Socio-cultural theory with a focus on
concepts like categories and prompting is our theoretical framework. In the DoCTA NSS proje
The Complexity of Distributed Collaborative Learning: Unit of Analysis
The problem area of this paper is manifested in the new conditions that characterise distributed collaborative learning. The core argument is that distributed collaborative learning implies an interconnected complexity that can only be properly understood by extending the unit of analysis from technology and pedagogy themselves to real-life social contexts in which networked computers are being used. Experiments and small-scale field trials are only steps towards a deeper understanding of how co
Collaboration and Problem Solving in Distributed Collaborative Learning
Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis are utilised as resources for analysing distributed collaborative learning. Thematically we are interested in how a group of students manage their task, how they keep a joint focus, and how technology features in their activity. We present and analyse extracts of data from a group collaborating in a groupware system called TeamWave Workplace. We conclude that in collaborative problem solving the interpretation of the task and the problem solving process
Museology and the Problem of Interiority
Museum and culture studies traditionally approach social issues related to national museum narratives by critically analyzing the historical development and orderings of collections and their functions. Studies may investigate museums' representational practices in interpretations of the 'other,' for example, or the role of official and state narratives in history museums' constructions of national identity, or scientific paradigms in natural history museums' orderings and material culture. Ofte
Learning Objects 4: Applications, Implications, & Future Direction
This is the fourth and final book of this series on Learning Objects (LO). Whereas the first three books were essentially concerned with current developments in the field, this book presents a wide-ranging series of discussions of potential and probable developments in the field. Part I encompasses Chapters 1 through Chapter 5. The focus is upon LO within the context of e-learning and online learning. We realize that our authors (like us) often use the terms "e-learning" and "online learning" in
Learning Objects 3 and Instructional Design
Learning Objects and Instructional Design is focused upon the art and the science of producing learning objects that meet educational standards and needs as well as technological and functional criteria. Written by educators from across the globe, the book emphasizes two critical, strategic factors: 1) form follows function, and 2) learning objects must address the needs and desires of learners within their learning or educational context. The book integrates issues such as multimedia for instru
Learning Objects 2: Standards, Metadata, Repositories, and LCMS
This book is the second in a four-volume series. It builds upon the first volume by taking an extended and in-depth look at theorists' and practitioners' efforts to consolidate current knowledge and praxis. This consolidation centers around conceptual and technological issues related to standards, metadata, repositories, and the concept of the LCMS (Learning Content Management System). Part I contains six chapters that focus upon LO concepts vis-à-vis architecture. A discussion of syntax, seman
Learning Objects 1: Theory, Praxis, Issues, and Trends
Learning Objects, Theory, Praxis, Issues, and Trends provides an in-depth look at how learning objects are changing teaching and learning today and how learning objects will play an important role in the development of 21st century education. Written by a set of educators and Information Scientists from across the globe, the book ties current theory to current practices and uses that perspective as a foundation to chart new directions in the theory and praxis of learning objects. While the book'
Advanced Principles of Effective e-Learning
With the global academic community currently focused on student learning outcomes achievement, assessment, and continuous improvement, e-learning strategies provide effective measures than can assist educators and educational administrators in the satisfaction of key objectives. Whether it is creating and incorporating simulations, building courses and curriculum, engaging in virtual team building, managing online programs, concept mapping, developing an electronic portfolio program, creating ac
A symbolic manipulator to introduce pupils to algebra theory
Within the theoretical framework of Vygotsky's theory, the paper presents a new algebra software. The main features of the software are described and their potentialities are discussed. According to the Vygotskian theory, expressions and commands may be thought as external signs of the Algebraic theory, and as such, they may become instruments of semiotic mediation: In other terms they can be used by the teacher, in the concrete realisation of classroom activity, according to the motive of intr
La natura della mediazione offerta dai sistemi basati su micromondi all’apprendimento della matema
Questo lavoro analizza il ruolo che ambienti basati sull’uso del calcolatore, ed in particolare i micromondi, possono assumere nelle attività di insegnamento e apprendimento di conoscenze matematiche.
Il lavoro parte dallo studio di alcuni risultati significativi che si sono avuti in questo campo a livello internazionale. Tale studio viene utilizzato come quadro di riferimento per situare e analizzare una ricerca specifica che abbiamo svolto in questo settore.
Tale ricerca riguarda la proge
The Grid Shared Desktop for CSCL
The Grid Shared Desktop (GSD) is a collaborative environment that provides a multidimensional humans-to-machine-to-humans interface by the means of multiples cleverly intricated desktops. The GSD is a platform independent solution that benefits of the intrinsic advantages of the Grid technology such as scalability and security. In order to verify that our GSD solution meets CSCL requirements, we have conducted experiments in the context of the ELeGI project. As part of the project use cases, the
Elup Editor Conceptual Guide and User Manual
The eLup editor: elearning Quality Process Editor is based on the conceptual model adopted by the E-Quality project (www.e-quality-eu.org). The purpose of the eLup software is to enable the e-learning professional to structure and document the quality approach used in his/her organisation by making use of the approach and findings of the equality project. The eLup software was developed within Montpellier 2 University. The software is a model editor coupled with a database using Java, MySQL and
CIEL: Integrating Approaches for Inquiry Learning
The world is changing and changing fast. Contemporary students live in a world full of impressions, fast changing viewpoints, ubiquitous information, zapping behaviour, play and joy etc. They use facilities such as MSN, on-line gaming, and SMS. They expect a seamless access to information, mostly in a social context. At the same time we see drastic changes in learning environments, moving them to rich, multi-media, collaborative, experiential, and individualised environments. Though starting fro
Mobile Notes: Mobile Devices in Creative Discussions
The trendy notion of “mobile learning” has different connotations: On the one hand, it can be understood as “learning on the move” – often referred to as “learning any time anywhere”. Of course this interpretation relies on specific kinds of technological enabling, but the definition aims at the general setting of learning activities. Particularly, it includes informal learning settings (cf. [1]). A second interpretation sees mobile learning somewhat more pragmatically as learning
A Method for Creating Collaborative Mobile Learning Trails
In this paper I report results from recent trials in which students used mobile devices to collaboratively create, edit and share trails. These included 9- to 10-year-olds as well as adult diploma students, in the subject of horticulture in botanic gardens. Findings indicate that a narrow subject focus and a manageable amount of data capture are appropriate in most cases; trails are most effective when framed with structured tasks and a narrow focus. Structure can be introduced through the use o
Selected Papers from the Kaleidoscope Convergence Workshop
To foster synergy between research on collaborative, mobile and inquiry learning and between different scientific and methodological perspectives (namely, educational design, psychology and computer science) and to strengthen the cohesion of the community, the Kaleidoscope network has decided to organise a âConvergence Workshopâ in conjunction with the 2006 Contractors' General Assembly in Amsterdam, Dec. 4-6.
The two fields of collaborative and inquiry learning have bee
Mind games, reasoning skills, and the primary school curriculum
This paper reports on a pilot research project aimed at helping to develop some strategic and reasoning abilities in primary school pupils by engaging them in educational itineraries based on the use of a number of computer mind games. The paper briefly describes the project's aims and organization, the kind of games used and the working methodology adopted. It then focuses on some of the cognitive abilities activated by the games. Finally, some pedagogical considerations derived from the study
