Maximising the language and learning link in computer learning environments

In studies on the implementation and educational uses of computers there are reports of changes in students' behaviour as a result of working with computers (Rowe, 1993; Crook, 1994). Social, collaborative and dialogic exchanges have been observed as students engage in tasks around computers. This research provides evidence that the computer is a social facilitator in the sense that it provides opportunities for collaboration, group work and interaction which fosters cognitive change (Wild, 1995).
This article recognises the social role of the computer, and supports the view that computers can be used to facilitate learning through language. There is growing awareness that if we are to realise the full potential of computers in education, consideration must be given to their role as catalysts in the learning process, rather than technological tools (Hawkridge, 1990). Computer assisted learning has progressed through many phases, and through investigation of underlying theoretical frameworks it is possible to recognise the change of focus from individual accounts of learning to social perspectives.
Theoretical frameworks which emphasise the social dimensions of learning (Vygotsky, 1978) legitimise the link between computers, language use and learning and indicate that computers must be integrated into the social life of classrooms if their pedagogical benefits are to be realised.     

Using scenarios to design complex technology-enhanced learning environments

Science Created by You (SCY) learning environments are computer-based environments in which students learn about science topics in the context of addressing a socio-scientific problem. Along their way to a solution for this problem students produce many types of intermediate products or learning objects. SCY learning environments center the entire learning process around creating, sharing, discussing, and re-using these learning objects. This instructional approach requires dedicated instructional designs, which are supplied in the form of what are called pedagogical scenarios. A SCY pedagogical scenario presents the learning process as an organized assembly of elementary learning processes, each associated with a specific learning object and a tool for creating this learning object. Designing a SCY learning environment is basically a two-step procedure: the first step is to select one of the available scenarios, and the second step is to define the domain content. The SCY technical infrastructure then handles the instantiation of the scenario as a SCY computer-based learning environment. In this article we describe the SCY pedagogical design scenarios and report on our experiences in designing four different SCY learning environments.     

Cognitive requirements for learning with open-ended learning environments

Open-ended learning environments (OELEs) use the capabilities of technology to provide students with opportunities to engage in authentic problem solving; generate, test, and revise hypotheses; explore and manipulate concepts; and reflect on what they know. By design, such environments require sophisticated levels of cognitive functioning. The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze assumptions underlying learner-centered, technology-based environments in light of how well learners appear to meet the cognitive demands for engaging them. Implications for design include the following considerations: (a) direct learner attention to key variables and visual cues; (b) prompt and guide connections to prior knowledge; and (c) provide explicit scaffolding of metacognition and teaching-learning strategies.     

Dynamics of affective states during complex learning

We propose a model to explain the dynamics of affective states that emerge during deep learning activities. The model predicts that learners in a state of engagement/flow will experience cognitive disequilibrium and confusion when they face contradictions, incongruities, anomalies, obstacles to goals, and other impasses. Learners revert into the engaged/flow state if equilibrium is restored through thought, reflection, and problem solving. However, failure to restore equilibrium as well as obstacles that block goals trigger frustration, which, if unresolved, will eventually lead to boredom. The major hypotheses of the model were supported in two studies in which participants completed a 32-35 min tutoring session with a computer tutor. Their affective states were tracked at approximately 110 points in their tutoring sessions via a retrospective affect judgment protocol. Time series analyses confirmed the presence of confusion-engagement/flow, boredom-frustration, and confusion-frustration oscillations. We discuss enhancements of the model to address individual differences and pedagogical and motivational strategies that are inspired by the model.     

Design-based research and technology-enhanced learning environments

During the past decade, design-based research has demonstrated its potential as a methodology suitable to both research and design of technology-enhanced learning environments (TELEs). In this paper, we define and identify characteristics of design-based research, describe the importance of design-based research for the development of TELEs, propose principles for implementing design-based research with TELEs, and discuss future challenges of using this methodology. More informationa about their work can be found at: http://lpsl.coe.uga.edu.     

Learning models and learning environments 1

Recent research and reviews question the adequacy of psychological models for research on instruction and learning. Six models—stimulus variation, organismic variation, multiple variation, interaction, stimulus mediation, and goal setting‐may be, in some cases, too simple and, in other cases, too complex to account for classroom learning. Perceptions of the social environment can make the models more parsimonious, serve as potent covariates, and account for additional variance in instructional research; they can also serve as interesting independent or dependent variables in social‐psychological inquiry. Several important generalizations can be made about social environments; and a number of research problems and priorities can be identified in the areas of theory, validity, evaluation, and educational goals.     

Towards an equilibrium model for creating powerful learning environments. Validation of a questionnaire on creating powerful learning environments during teacher training internships

Recently, many insights have been gained into how to create powerful learning environments. The goal of learning how to teach in this way has important consequences for teacher training. Firstly, scholars indicate the necessity to work out a theoretical framework for the student‐teachers which is sufficiently complete, but still manageable, and which is operationalised into concrete educational approaches. The current article presents such a framework, based on a literature study. Key teaching activities were described by means of 13 dimensions. Aiming at a gradually more complex model for use in teacher education, these dimensions were summarized in a model with four interconnected main dimensions. Possible conflicts between the instructional activities of the four main dimensions were indicated. Teachers have to search for appropriate balances within these dilemmas. The whole is conceptualized as an ‘equilibrium model for creating powerful learning environments’. Secondly, based on this framework, instruments could be constructed which facilitate research into approaches within teacher training which encourage learning how to teach in this way. A questionnaire to evaluate the degree of creating powerful learning environments during internships was, therefore, constructed and validated. Analyses indicate a suitable degree of reliability and validity. Furthermore, a confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the assumed theoretical structure was reflected by the experimental data.

Récemment, nos connaissances au sujet de la création d'environnements d'apprentissage puissants se sont largement développées. L'objectif d'apprendre à enseigner de cette façon a d'importantes conséquences pour la formation des enseignants. En premier lieu, les professeurs spécialisés insistent sur la nécessité de réaliser un encadrement théorique pour les enseignants en formation qui soit suffisamment complet, mais encore flexible, et qui se traduise opération‐nellement en approches éducationnelles concrètes. Cet article présente une structure d'encadrement, sur base d'une étude de la littérature. Les activités fondamentales d'enseignement ont été décrites en utilisant 13 dimensions. Dans le but de construire un modèle graduellement plus complexe dans l'éducation de l'enseignant, ces dimensions ont été résumées dans un modèle avec quatre dimensions principales interconnectées. Des conflits possibles entre les activités d'enseignement des quatre dimensions principales ont été identifiés. Les enseignants doivent rechercher des balances appropriées entre ces dilemmes. L'ensemble est conçu comme un ‘modèle d'équilibre pour créer des environnements d'apprentissage puissants’. En second lieu, sur base de cet encadrement, des moyens pourraient être mis en place pour faciliter la recherche dans les approches de la formation des enseignants pour encourager une manière d'enseigner appropriée. En conséquence, un questionnaire a été élaboré et validé pour évaluer le niveau de création d'environnements d'apprentissage puissants pendant les stages de formation. Les analyses montrent un degré approprié de confiance et de validité. De plus, une analyse factorielle confirmatoire montre que la structure théorique supposée est confirmée par les résultats expérimentaux.

Recientemente hemos ganado criterio en la creación de entornos de aprendizaje fuertes. Aprender como enseñar de esta manera tiene consecuencias importantes para el entrenamiento de profesores. En primer lugar investigadores indican que es necesario que se elabore una teoría bastante completa, pero realizable para los profesores estudiantes tambien, y convertido en actividades concretas de enseñanza. El artículo actual representa tal marco, basado en un estudio literario. Actividades clave de enseñanza se describen en 13 dimensiones. Para llegar a un modelo gradualmente más complejo que se utiliza en la educación de profesores, hemos resumido estas dimensiones en un modelo con cuatro dimensiones principales interconectadas. Conflictos posibles se indicaban entre las actividades de instrucción de las diferentes dimensiones (principales). Profesores tienen que buscar un equilibrio apropiado dentro de estos dilemas. Como concepto global podemos hablar de ‘un modelo equilibrio para crear entornos de aprendizaje fuertes’. En segundo lugar podríamos construir instrumentos basados en este teoría, que facilitan el estudio de planteamientos en el entrenamiento de profesores que pueden estimular a aprender como debe enseñar de esta manera. Por eso, hemos construido y validado un cuestionario que evalúa la creación de entornos de aprendizaje fuertes durante clases de práctica. Análisis indican que hay bastante fiabilidad y validez. Además un análisis factorial consolidado indica que la estructura teórica supuesta se apoya en datos experimentales.

In letzter Zeit sind viele Untersuchungen bezüglich der Kreation erfolgreicher Lernumgebungen gemacht worden und neue Erkenntnisse gewonnen worden. Das Ziel, um diese Untersuchungen in der Wirklichkeit umzusetzen, hat wichtige Folgen für das Trainingprogramm des Lehrers. An erster Stelle weisen Forscher auf die Notwendigkeit eines vollständigen theoretischen, aber für die Studente jedoch noch immer verständlichen, Rahmen auszuarbeiten, der in deutlich fassbare didaktische Vorgehensweisen umgesetz wird. In dem nachstehenden Artikel wird einen solchen Rahmen, basiert auf eine literarische Studie, beschrieben. Die wichtigsten Aktivitäten eines Lehrers werden in 13 Dimensionen beschrieben. Ziel ist um schrittstufenweise einen mehr komplizierten Modell in Lehrerprogramme zu verwenden; die 13 Dimensionen sind daher in einem Modell mit 4 gegenseitig zusammenhangenden Hauptdimensionen zusammengefasst worden. Mögliche Gegensätze zwischen den didaktischen Aktivitäten der unterschiedlichen Hauptdimensionen wurden angedeutet. Zukünftige Lehrer haben als Aufgabe ein Gleichgewicht zwischen diesen Dilemmen zu finden. Das Ganze wird als ‘ein balanziertes Modell für die Entwicklung erfolgreicher Lernumgebungen’ konzeptualisiert. Mit dieser Theorie in Gedanken können Untersuchungsinstrumente entwickelt werden, die nachweisen, wie ein bestimmtes Verfahren im Lehrerpprogramm die Studente motiviert, um in dieser Weise Unterricht zu erteilen. Es wurde ein Fragebogen aufgearbeitet und validiert, um den Grad in der Entwicklung erfolgreicher Lernumgebungen während eines Lehrerpraktikums zu evaluieren. Verschiedene Analysen haben eine ausreichende Zuverlässigkeit und Validität nachgewiesen. Weiterhin hat eine bestätigende Faktoranalyse nachgewiesen, dass der vorausgesetzte theoretische Struktur durch experimentelle Daten wiedergegeben war.     

Understanding collaborative learning processes in new learning environments

Trying to understand the complexity of computer-mediated problem-based learning environments is not easy. Sociocultural theory provides a theoretical framework for understanding such environments because it emphasizes the socially situated nature of learning and the critical role of tools in mediating learning. To examine how different aspects of discourse relate to each other, as well as to the tools being used in the collaborative learning process, it is important to understand how collaborative knowledge building unfolds and how these processes are mediated. This requires going beyond coding individual speech acts. The use of Chronologically-Ordered Representations of Discourse and Tool-Related Activity (CORDTRA) diagrams is one way of achieving this understanding. We use this to study contrasting cases of more and less successful groups using the STELLAR learning environment. STELLAR is an integrated online PBL environment for preservice teachers, containing a learning sciences hypermedia, a library of videocases, and online personal and collaborative spaces. Our analyses suggest that an important locus of differences is how students use resources and engage in different kinds of metacognitive talk and knowledge transforming activities, sometimes to the group’s detriment. Frequency analyses provided an easily interpreted snapshot of each group’s activity. The CORDTRA analyses provide a more dynamic view that helps researchers and teachers better understand how collaborative learning unfolds. Such analyses have implications for understanding new learning environments as well as helping identify where interventions might be needed.     

计算机文化基础的教与学

计算机文化基础作为高等职业院校的一门公共课,在各个专业都是必开的基础科目。加之计算机领域的技术和软件不断更新,这门课程的内容也必须随之调整。对教师来说,了一些可行性的教学思路,并在教学中针对学生的学习情况。针对我校高职学院的特点进行了一些教学方法的探索,提出进行了尝试,取得了一定成绩,具有一定的推广价值。     

高校青年教师角色转变过程中的心理困惑及对策

高校的青年教师由于角色转变过快,容易产生一些心理困惑:如因和学生年龄差异小,无法尽快树立自己的威信;难以适应新的人际关系;职业负担过重;对自己的期望值过高等。为此建议青年教师做好上岗前的心理培训;创造各种机会释放心理压力;尽快地融入集体,建立和谐的人际关系;加强自我修养,提高心理素质等。     

Teacher adaptation to flexible learning environments

Learning Environments Research - Teaching practices respond to the prompts, resources and inherent potential of a school’s physical, social and cultural landscape. This study involved how...