Internationalizing the Curriculum: Champlain College and the Global Module Project
Champlain College, a leader in both online and international education, uses the Internet to create Global Modules that link the students and faculty at two or three international educational institutions for shared online readings, discussion and teamwork. Students at Champlain have used the Global Modules format to discuss womenÂ’s issues with students in the U.A.E., terrorism with Jordanian students, globalization with Indian students, the peace movement with Austrian students and the Lebanon
An Interactive, Multimedia Environment for Exploring Tonal Pitch Space
Because they depict relations among musical pitches, chords, and key, charts in Fred LerdahlÂ’s Tonal Pitch Space can be rendered more accurately and vividly with multimedia authoring software. My renderings enable a user to orient charts toward any specific key, trace any of numerous possible paths, determine the depth of embedding of any element in any tonal context, and compute distances between elements. LerdahlÂ’s analyses can be depicted more vividly by synchronizing graphic images with th
Introduction of Computer Studies to non-science university students: The Sri Lankan experience
Introduction of computer studies as a subject to students in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences in Sri Lankan universities is a relatively recent experience. University of Kelaniya was the first university in Sri Lanka that offered computer studies as a subject to its Bachelor of Arts Degree programme starting in 2001. This paper attempts to analyze the relative performance of science and non-science students offering the same module under the new computer studies curriculum.
Pedagogical evaluation of e-learning courses - Adapted pedagogical index
E-learning is becoming an important part of education and it can provide new possibilities for disabled people. Critical evaluation is becoming indispensable, especially in e-learning systems supporting disabled people, as very little has been done in this area. This paper describes the development of adapted pedagogical index (AdaPI), which demonstrates the pedagogical effectiveness of different courses created and adapted for disabled.
Efficient object based streaming framework for web-based education
An efficient moving object extraction algorithm suitable for real-time content-based multimedia streaming systems is proposed in this paper. A Motion Vector (MV) based object extraction is used to dynamically detect the objects. To utilize the bandwidth efficiently, the important object can be real time detected, encoded, and transmitted with higher quality and higher frame rate than those of background. In order to meet the real-time requirement, no computationally intensive operation is includ
Designing and Supporting Collaborative Modelling Activities in the Classroom
Over the last ten years, we have observed an increasing interest of the “computers in education” and other related research communities in supporting not only individual learners but also learning groups. The most prominent scenarios in this line of research and development have certainly been centred around virtual learning groups using computerised communication and cooperation facilities. From a technology point of view, the focus of this work has been on synchronous and asynchronous inform
Integrating Collaborative Concept Mapping Tools with Group Memory and Retrieval Functions
The provision of shared visual representations is considered to be an important facilitator for creative processes in group working and learning scenarios. Although reusability is an inherent feature of computerised representations in general, a comparative analysis of existing tools shows clear deficits in this respect. We are convinced that reusability and thus sustainability of the results of co-constructive group work can be much enhanced by integrating visual environments with functions for
Analysis Methods for Collaborative Models and Activities
A classification of analysis methods for CSCL systems is presented which uses as one dimension the distinction into summary analysis and structural analysis and as another distinction different types of raw data: either user actions or state descriptions. The Cool Modes environment for collaborative modeling enables us to explore the whole spectrum of analysis methods. Action logging is based on the MatchMaker communication server underlying Cool Modes. Example instances for several analysis met
Processing and Transforming Collaborative Learning Protocols for Learner's Reflection and Tutor's Ev
This paper discusses the potential of processing and analysis of collaborative learning protocols, which in the first place are represented as low-level logfiles of actions in collaborative learning environments. These protocols can be abstracted, analysed, and augmented to provide the users with feedback about the collaboration process. We present several techniques we implemented which may be combined to support learner s self-reflection as well as tutors in evaluating the process.
CSCL Scripts: Modelling Features and Potential Use
The design of collaboration scripts is a new focus of research within the CSCL community. In order to support the design, communication, analysis, simulation and even execution of collaboration scripts, a general specification language to describe collaboration scripts is needed. In this paper, we analyse the suitability and limitations of IMS LD for modelling collaborative learning processes. Based on the analysis, we propose a CSCL scripting language. This paper presents the conceptual framewo
Using the Internet to Improve University Education: Problem-oriented Web-based Learning with MUNICS
A principled approach to the design of problem-oriented, web-based learning at the university level is presented. The principles include providing authentic contexts with multimedia, supporting collaborative knowledge construction, making thinking visible with dynamic visualisation, quick access to content resources via ICT, and flexible support by tele-tutoring. These principles are used in the MUNICS learning environment, which is designed to help students of computer science to apply their co
Not So Neutral Views
Students are introduced to acids and bases, and the environmental problem of acid rain. They explore ways to use indicators to distinguish between acids and bases. Students also conduct a simple experiment to model and discuss the harmful effects of acid rain on our living and non-living environment, as well as how engineers address acid rain. In an associated literacy activity, students learn how persuasive techniques are used to develop an argument, and create an environmental case study.
Learning Bridges: a role for mobile technologies in education
A project called MyArtSpace, funded by the UK
Department for Culture Media and Sport, is today exploring how children can engage
in similar enquiry-led learning supported by mobile technology and how this can link
to school and home learning. Using MyArtSpace as an example, we discuss the
possibilities for mobile technology to form bridges between formal and informal
learning. We also offer guidelines, drawn from our experience with MyArtSpace, for
designing such bridges.
Optimizing the role of language in Technology-Enhanced Learning
A two-day expert workshop on the role of language in Technology-Enhanced Learning was held at the University of Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) on October 4th-5th 2007. The workshopÂ’s title was:
“Optimizing the role of language in Technology Enhanced Learning”.
The primary objective of the IDILL workshop was to bring together academic experts and industrial companies who carry out cutting-edge research in the fields of Natural Language Processing, Applied corpus linguistics, and Computer
Fossil Fondue
To understand how fossils are formed, students model the process of fossilization by making fossils using small toy figures and melted chocolate. They extend their knowledge to the many ways that engineers aid in the study of fossils, including the development of tools and technologies for determining the physical and chemical properties of fossilized organisms, and how those properties tell a story of our changing world.
Elaborating new arguments through a CSCL scenario
The CSCL community faces two main challenges with respect to learning and argumentation. The scientific challenge is to understand how argumentation produces learning, that is to discover which cognitive mechanisms, triggered by argumentative interactions, generate new knowledge and in which conditions. The engineering challenge is to determine how to trigger productive argumentation among students. These two challenges are often investigated in parallel, but this contribution focuses on the lat
Designing and evaluating collaboration in a virtual game environment for vocational learning
Especially in vocational education, attention should be paid not only to the use of new technological solutions but also to collaborative learning and cooperative working methods in order to develop studentsÂ’ skills for their future jobs. This study involves a design experiment including the design process of a new game environment, description of the script developed for this game, as well as the empirical study with multiple data collection methods, data analysis, results and conclusions for
Modeling and simulation in inquiry learning: Checking solutions and giving intelligent advice
Inquiry learning is a didactic approach in which students acquire knowledge and skills through processes of theory building and experimentation. Computer modeling and simulation can play a prominent role within this approach. Students construct representations of physical systems using modeling. Using simulation, they execute these representations to study the phenomena or systems modeled. However, the modeling task is complex, and students can fail to create adequate models, which prevents effe
Mixing Human and Software Agents: A Case Study
This paper describes a multi agent approach of the organisation of a collective activity within a pedagogical context. We consider pedagogical situations where students have to explicitly define the articulation of their collective work and then achieve the different tasks they have defined. Our objective is to support these students by taking some of these tasks in charge whilst making them work out such organisation features. For this purpose, we propose to consider that the group of students
Cowos: A Model of Collective Work Situations to Support Modelling and Simulation Based Approaches of
This paper describes an operational model of collective work situations. This model is rooted in the CHAT theory. It allows creating multi-agent simulations where the agentsÂ’ behaviour is defined in terms that make salient organization issues, and allows building learning situations that focus on making students consider explicitly these issues.
