Narrative Evolution: Learning from Students' Talk about Species Variation
Learners do not always enjoy productive interactions with Multimedia Interactive Learning Environments. Their attention can be distracted away from the educational focus intended by designers and teachers through poor design and operational inadequacy. In this paper we describe a study of groups of learners using a multimedia CD-ROM research tool called Galapagos. This tool was developed to enable us to observe groups of learners interacting with different versions of the same multimedia content
Theory of Supercritical Fluid Extraction via the Discovery Approach
An experiment using supercritical fluid extraction is described. The authors have devised the experiments for an undergraduate audience. The paper is intended for educators and faculty in charge of a physical or analytical chemistry lab.
MArCo: Building an Artificial Conflict Mediator to Support Group Planning Interactions
The emphasis on building co-operative/collaborative environments has brought out the matter of group interactions. This, in its turn, has highlighted the issue of conflicts, inherent to group problem solving. If well employed, conflicts can act as triggers of cognitive changes, and thus help to refine the group's solution to the task. In this paper, we present a computational framework for detecting and mediating Meta-Cognitive conflicts. The theoretical framework presented here enables a comput
Looking Ahead to Select Tutorial Actions: A Decision-Theoretic Approach
We propose and evaluate a decision-theoretic approach for selecting tutorial actions by looking ahead to anticipate their effects on the student and other aspects of the tutorial state. The approach uses a dynamic decision network to consider the tutor’s uncertain beliefs and objectives in adapting to and managing the changing tutorial state. Prototype action selection engines for diverse domains – calculus and elementary reading – illustrate the approach. These applications employ a rich mod
A Collaborative Case Study System For Distance Learning
Distance Learning from Case Studies involves enabling collaboration between two or more learners at a distance on a case study activity. In this paper we present an empirical qualitative study that simulates a learning scenario in which a pair of subjects at a distance are provided with a collaborative learning environment and required to collaborate in order to solve a case study. The results of this empirical qualitative study have implications that informed the design of a system: LeCS (Learn
Modélisation formelle en sciences expérimentales : problématiques de la transmission
Cette note de synthèse rédigée en vue de soutenir une habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR) propose une relecture de mes travaux de recherche sur la modélisation en physique statistique et en écologie comportementale ayant pour but de dégager des problématiques de la modélisation en sciences expérimentales et de les traduire ensuite en problématiques de la transmission. Dans une première partie, je présente mes travaux en me plaçant du point de vue des modèles que j’ai util
Les graphes argumentatifs interactifs sur Internet : sont-ils plus efficaces comme média du débat
Nous présentons les résultats d'une expérience menée dans le cadre du projet européen SCALE. Le but de cette recherche était d'étudier l'influence du type d'utilisation du graphe argumentatif durant des débats pédagogiques sur Internet. Précisément, il s'agissait de savoir sur le graphe argumentatif était plus efficace lorsqu'il était utilisé comme médium du débat (C1) ou comme moyen de le représenter (C2). Dans cet objectif, nous avons évalué à l'aide d'une méthode original
Flexible navigation for the pedagogical hypermedia design and evaluation improvement
We are working on a method, called CEPIAH, for the design and the evaluation of pedagogical hypermedia. We propose a web based system used to help teachers to design hypermedia documents and to evaluate their prototypes. Having already elaborated a methodology for the evaluation of interactive pedagogical hypermedia (EMPI), the experience and the acknowledgement we have is able to upgrade the design help. To help the designer in his instructional Web site creation we developed an interactive gui
Toward a Web based environment for Evaluation and Design of Pedagogical Hypermedia
In order to guide and help the educational Web sites authors in the conception/evaluation process of their prototypes, it is especially interesting to propose them interactive guides. Among the existent interactive guides, only few offer a good content structure or an appropriate navigation in their system. We propose a web based system used to help teachers to design multimedia documents and to evaluate their prototypes. Our current research objectives are to create a methodology to sustain the
Une aide à la réingénierie d'un scénario pédagogique via la préconisation et la formalisation
La démarche que nous proposons dans cet article s'inscrit dans une réflexion menée autour de la réingénierie des EIAH. Elle concerne plus précisément la réingénierie d'un scénario pédagogique en assistant les concepteurs dans la phase de définition des observables qui leur permettront de comprendre a posteriori le déroulement d'une session d'apprentissage. De ce point de vue, notre démarche présente plusieurs points forts. Tout d'abord, elle permet de préconiser des observables Ã
Approche par transformation de modèles pour la conception d'EIAH
Ce papier concerne la conception de situations d'apprentissage dans le cadre de la formation à distance. Des travaux préalables ont été menés afin de proposer un langage, CPM (Cooperative Problem-based learning Metamodel), exploitant la richesse graphique proposé par UML (Unified Modeling Language). CPM est alors construit sous la forme d'un profil UML.Il se positionne au niveau des phases de conception en amont des EML (Educational Modeling Language). Nous présentons alors une technique
Discrete Mathematics
This course covered the mathematical topics most directly related to computer science. Topics included: logic, relations, functions, basic set theory, countability and counting arguments, proof techniques, mathematical induction, graph theory, combinatorics, discrete probability, recursion, recurrence relations, and number theory. Emphasis will be placed on providing a context for the application of the mathematics within computer science. The analysis of algorithms requires the ability to count
Sustainable Development Education
Provides models, curricula, and professional development materials for learning about managing trade-offs between resource use and quality of life. Software is offered to help clarify key principles of sustainable thinking, including a spatial modeling and visualization tool for community design and an ecological footprint calculator.
Foundations and opportunities for an interdisciplinary science of learning
In this chapter, we argue that the learning sciences are poised for a "decade of synergy." We focus on several key traditions of theory and research with the potential for mutually influencing one another in ways that can transform how we think about the science of learning, as well as how future educators and scientists are trained.
CML - The ClassSync Modeling Language.
The ClassSync Modeling Language (CML) addresses the problem of creating a controlling overlay to classroom learning activities, or e-leaming workflows. Our aim is to allow authors and teachers to generate a mapping from activity design to its implementation in a wirelessly networked classroom with ubiquitous use of handheld computers for information exchange. CML models e-learning workflows with three major components: actors, data objects, and interaction networks. Actors are the diverse perfon
Constructivism in the Collaboratory
Great attention has been paid recently to the capabilities of computers to provide environments in which active learners can construct their own understanding through open-ended interaction. Yet discussion of constructivist learning environments has commonly focused on the learner as an individual, learning in isolation from other learners. For example, Perkins (1991) characterizes a learning environment as being composed of five facets: information banks, symbol pads, construction kits, phenome
The greenhouse effect visualizer: a tool for the science classroom
The Greenhouse Effect Visualizer (GEV) is designed to help students visualize data sets related to the earth's energy balance. This work was inspired by the benefits scientific visualization have provided to scientists in discovering patterns and presenting the results of their work to broad communities. The hope is that scientific visualization can provide equal assistance to students trying to learn science. The philosophy underlying this approach links learning with practice. Hence, students
‘Hole-In-The-Wall’ Computer Kiosks Foster Mathematics Achievement - A comparative study
Earlier work at unsupervised playground computer kiosks in rural India, popularly called 'hole-in-the-wall', showed that children exposed to these kiosks learn to use computers on their own and that they are able to clear school examinations in computer science, without any classroom teaching for it. Extending this, our recent research work examines the possible impact on attainments in other curricular subjects, arising from self-directed use of these kiosks. This paper investigates the impact
Web 2.0 for Content for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
The study will provide a set of recommendations for the JISC, institutions, and teachers on the effective use of Web 2.0 technologies for sharing content for teaching and learning. This will be achieved by desk research building on JISC funded and other work already undertaken, and widespread consultation across the community through an online workshop. The desk research will look at both existing practice and institutional policies which can facilitate or inhibit the use of Web 2.0 technologie
Adaptive Personalisation in Self e-Learning Networks
This paper presents some of the personalisation services designed for self e-learning networks in the SeLeNe project. A self e-learning network consists of web-based learning objects that have been made available to the network by its users, along with metadata descriptions of these learning objects and of the networkÂ’s users.
The architecture of the network is distributed and service-oriented. The personalisation facilities include: querying learning object descriptions to return results tail
