Unraveling the influence of domain knowledge during simulation-based inquiry learning

This study investigated whether the mere knowledge of the meaning of variables can facilitate inquiry learning processes and outcomes. Fifty-seven college freshmen were randomly allocated to one of three inquiry tasks. The concrete task had familiar variables from which hypotheses about their underlying relations could be inferred. The intermediate task used familiar variables that did not invoke underlying relations, whereas the abstract task contained unfamiliar variables that did not allow for inference of hypotheses about relations. Results showed that concrete participants performed more successfully and efficiently than intermediate participants, who in turn were equally successful and efficient as abstract participants. From these findings it was concluded that students learning by inquiry benefit little from knowledge of the meaning of variables per se. Some additional understanding of the way these variables are interrelated seems required to enhance inquiry learning processes and outcomes.     

近邻传播算法的情境感知学习系统构建分析

泛在学习系统要求能有一个完整的和有组织的方式,通过情境感知推荐学习单元,使学习者可以建立一个自我管理和个性化的学习环境,利用无线网络传输和真实情境实时感应学习目标,让学习的目标由抽象转化为具体,更易于掌握。     

Expansive learning on the move: insights from ongoing research / El aprendizaje expansivo en movimiento: aportaciones de la investigación en curso

The article argues that the crucial task of expansive learning is to generate alternatives to capitalism in human activities, organizations and communities. To meet this challenge, the article discusses two areas of current development in the theory of expansive learning. The first area is transformative agency and double stimulation; the second area is concept formation in the wild, germ cells and ascending from the abstract to the concrete. These two areas are complementary. Expansive learning is both formation of transformative agency and formation of new theoretical concepts. Transformative agency is a central quality and outcome of expansive learning. Theoretical concepts are perspectival and future-oriented; they become concrete when learners take volitional actions to change their circumstances. To have societal impact, efforts at implementing expansive learning in education should be expanded in space and time. This means getting schools involved in struggles of communities and social movements.     

Latent class analysis of non-formal learners’ self-directed learning patterns in open educational resource repositories

Open educational resources (OERs) are increasingly adopted in non-formal education contexts. However, little research has been conducted to investigate the self-directed learning patterns of non-formal learners using OERs. A lack of knowledge about non-formal learners precludes discussions on how to support their self-regulated learning in open learning environments. We explored the self-directed learning patterns of 1892 non-formal online learners who were using OER repositories. In addition, we examined whether differences existed in future intentions to use OERs between learners with different learning patterns. Four latent classes were identified, and learners’ age was found to affect class membership. We also found that non-formal learners’ use of self-directed learning strategies predicted their future intentions to use OERs. This study advanced our understanding of the subpopulations of non-formal learners using OERs. Future research will benefit from the findings related to designing OER environments that can accommodate diverse self-directed learners.     

Relationship Between Client-Learning Style and Preference for Counselor Approach

A client-counselor matching model based on Kolb's experiential learning theory was examined. A questionnaire, which included Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI) and four counselor approach profiles, was completed by 205 counseling clients. The clients indicated which counselor they preferred. The following four preference patterns were predicted: concrete learners—experiential approach, abstract learners—rational approach, active learners— behavioral approach, and reflective learners—client-centered approach. The results did not confirm the hypothesized four-way model, although limited support for the matching concept was evident when only two counselor approaches were considered. Clients who preferred directive counselors were more abstract learners. Clients preferring nondirective counselors were more concrete learners. Overall, clients preferred the rational counselor approach. A nonclient comparison group (n = 75) preferred the client-centered approach.     

Self-directed learning readiness and performance in the workplace

Deep and rapid changes in a high-tech society exceed the ability of formal educational systems to respond to new learning needs. Therefore, the future of post secondary education will increasingly include emphases on self-directed learning skills and activities. Despite recognition of such a trend, knowledge of self-directed learning and self-directed learners is in its infancy.This study of self-directed learning and performance was designed to determine the relationship of self-directed learning readiness and performance in an occupational setting. Business, government and industry are expected to depend heavily upon self-directed learning in the future. Because of the increasingly close relationship between education and these sectors of the economy, educators should have a keen interest in this kind of research.The sample included 753 individuals selected from the population of a large American utility company: 421 were managers and 318 were non-managers; 14 subjects did not define their occupational status. Subjects provided information on their management level, sex, age, education, race, job performance rating, creativity required on their jobs, problem-solving ability needed in their jobs and degree of change in their work. Nine hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance.Selected conclusions are as follows: (a) outstanding performers in jobs requiring a very high level of creativity had significantly higher SDLRS scores than others; (b) outstanding performers in jobs requiring a very high degree of problem-solving skill had significantly higher SDLRS scores than others; and (c) individuals who have completed higher levels of education tend to have higher SDLRS scores.     

The effect of manipulatives on mathematics achievement across different learning styles

The current study investigates the influence of manipulatives used in combination with traditional approaches to mathematics education and how varying amounts of time spent on manipulative use influence student achievement across different learning styles. Three learning environments were created that incorporated varying proportions of traditional teaching approaches and manipulative methods. In one of the learning environments, the teacher used strictly lecture- and exercise-based teaching activities, which are more conducive to abstract learning. Abstract learners showed higher academic performance compared with concrete learners in the environment where only traditional methods were used. For the other two environments, which utilised varying combinations of manipulative tools and traditional methods, the differences in the mathematics achievement levels among students of varying learning styles were not statistically significant. The study also showed that concrete learners demonstrated higher performance in mathematics when manipulatives were used than did their counterparts in the environment where only abstract activities were used; however, in the third learning environment, increasing the amount of manipulative use did not provide an extra benefit to concrete learners.     

The effects of instructional explicitness on learning and error persistence

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of pictorial and/or verbal instructional stimuli on learning and error persistence. Subjects were 84 third-graders and 84 fourth-graders. Students were randomly assigned to a picture, oral, or combined presentation group. Each student saw and/or heard an adapted children's story. A constructed response recall test, containing both concrete and abstract items, was administered immediately, and 1 week after, the presentation. Oral and picture presentations yielded approximately equal learning of abstract content, but pictures yielded greater learning of concrete content. Error persistence for abstract content was greatest for picture-only presentations, while persistence of concrete errors was comparable across presentations.     

试论网络环境中的教师主导作用

文章从大学英语教学理论和实践的视角,探讨了学生作为自主学习的主体,利用网络技术发挥教师主导作用,引导学生合理利用网络资源,提高自主学习效率等问题.     

虚拟仿真教学系统学习效果的影响因素研究

针对虚拟仿真教学系统如何影响学习者学习效果机制不明的问题,文章基于建构主义学习理论,构建了虚拟仿真教学系统学习效果的影响机制模型。在此基础上,文章使用系统日志数据,从教学内容、虚拟仿真技术、学习者特征三个维度探讨虚拟仿真教学系统对学习效果的影响,并提出7个研究假设。随后,文章以江苏科技大学企业管理虚拟实景实验教学系统为例进行了实证研究,对7个研究假设进行了一一验证,结果发现:学习者的专业素养正向影响操作能力表现与学习效果;任务复杂性与操作能力表现之间呈倒U型关系;虚拟仿真技术分别调节了专业素养、任务复杂性与操作能力表现之间的关系。最后,文章针对虚拟仿真教学系统的具体应用提出建议,以期提升虚拟仿真教学系统在高校应用的教学效果。     

Speaking personally—with Shirley M. Davis

abstract

Using data collected from 120 students enrolled in nine sections of an undergraduate technical communication course, this study found a number of statistically significant associations between students' learning styles, as defined by the Index of Learning Styles, and nine measures evaluating both academic performance and student preference. The study also measured student performance in collaborative and self-directed versions of the course, as well as full and summer sessions. Reflective learners were found to be the most successful online learners, excelling in collaborative, as well as self-directed versions of the course. Sequential learners also outperformed global learners. Learning styles were not a significant factor in summer-session courses.     

计算机辅助模式下外语自主学习者的认知

该文主要研究新兴的计算机辅助学习模式是否能为外语自主学习者创造一个良好的认知环境,改善他们的认知过程及促进他们认知策略的发挥。作者通过问卷调查传统、计算机辅助两种不同模式下外语自主学习者对语言学习过程中认知条件的满意程度,并对以上两组问卷数据进行统计、分析及对比,结果发现计算机辅助模式从整体上明显优于传统模式,它能够在多方面有效地促进外语自主学习者的语言认知。     

试析教师博客在现代远程教育中的应用

近年来,博客作为一种新型的信息交流方式进入中国后,逐渐成为一种理想的学习、教学管理工具,受到了教育界的广泛关注。博客不仅提供了一种课堂教学之外的新型网络教育及学习模式,更成为课堂教学的有效补充。本文以自导学习为理论基础,通过教学目标分析、学习者的分析、教学策略设计、学习环境设计、学习情景设计,设计适合于自导学习模式的教师博客的教学模型,为教师终身学习,不断重新构建自己知识体系,不倦追求自身的专业发展以及学习者进行自我指导学习,不断整理自己获得的知识,提供良好的平台和环境。     

Creativity through self-directed learning: three distinct dimensions of teacher support

ABSTRACT

Self-directed learning and creativity are critical workplace competences that are important to foster in formal educational settings. Previous studies have identified a relationship between self-directed learning and creativity, but the specific nature of this relationship is unclear. The purpose of the present theoretical paper is to examine through a literature review the possibility that creative learning outcomes can be supported through a self-directed learning process. The importance of considering self-directed learning in the context of adult learning – as a pragmatic learning process – is outlined. A conclusion is drawn that (1) creative learning outcomes are potentially supported through self-directed learning, and (2) in the process, teachers can provide support to learners in three distinct different ways. A variety of pragmatic educational activities that may enable self-directed learning and creative learning outcomes are discussed, including experiential learning; workplace simulations; and problem-, case-, and (e-) portfolio-based learning. In these activities, teacher support seems advantageous for many learners. The three distinct dimensions of teacher support identified in the present paper are important to consider in further empirical studies on self-directed learning.     

Self-directed English Language Learning Through Watching English Television Drama in China

This paper presents a case study of a group of Chinese ESL learners in China, who study English by immersing themselves regularly and rigorously in English television drama. A self-directed learning pedagogy has been developed and discussed, which seems to have signposted an effective and economic way for ESL learners to improve linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmatic competence beyond the language classroom.     

论自我导向学习及其对成人教育教师角色的启示

自我导向学习理论是成人学习理论新进展的主要内容之一,是成人学习者的主要学习方式之一,近年来一直备受关注。本文首先对自我导向学习的发展、定义、内涵及过程进行简要概述。之后论述了成人自我导向学习对成人教育教师的启示,提出了对成人教育教师有设计者、激励者、帮助者、促进者、引领者、研究者的多元角色期待,基于此种角色期待,成人教育教师需要转变角色观念、注意个体差异、塑造自我导向的人格特质、熟悉成人自我导向学习实施的一般步骤。     

Building and sustaining community in asynchronous learning networks

This article applies the concept of classroom community to asynchronous learning networks (ALNs) by taking on the issue of how best to design and implement a course that fosters community among learners who are physically separated from each other. The following factors that can influence sense of community among distant learners are examined: student–instructor ratio, transactional distance, social presence and instructor immediacy, lurking, social equality, collaborative learning, group facilitation, and self-directed learning.     

An investigation of the construct validity of the personality trait of self-directed learning

Based on samples of 398 middle school students, 568 high school students, and 1159 college students, self-directed learning was found to be related to cumulative grade-point-average at all levels as well as to Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Extraversion), narrow personality traits (Optimism, Career-Decidedness, Work Drive, and Self-Actualization), vocational interests (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, and Conventional, as well as Science, Medicine, and Mathematics), cognitive aptitudes, and life as well as college satisfaction. Based on an additional sample of 4125 college students, a confirmatory factor analysis was used to verify a single factor structure for our 10-item measure of self-directed learning. Results were discussed in terms of personality characteristics of self-directed learners, the trans-situational validity of self-directed learning in academic settings, multiple forms of evidence of the construct validity of self-directed learning, and implications for future research and practice.     

Guglielmino's self-directed learning readiness scale: A validation study

The attributes of self-direction in learning are becoming increasingly important as the need for lifelong learning grows in strength. Educators are challenged to assist in the development of self-directed learning skills and to encourage learners to more freely use self-direction in their learning activities. Unfortunately, there are few validated procedures for identifying the self-directed learners. Guglielmino's Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale is one of the few instruments identified in the literature for the purpose of measuring self-direction in learning. Even though the scale has been widely used, additional validation is needed. This study was designed to use a multitrait-multimethod procedure for determining the validity of the SDLRS. The sample included 136 college students from two different colleges: 63 black students, 70 white students and 3 students of other nationalities (other than USA). Thirty-seven specific hypotheses were tested. Findings concerning selected hypotheses are discussed. Three general conclusions concerning the validity of the SDLRS are as follows: (1) The findings are supportive of the validity of the SDLRS; (2) Significant differences were noted in faculty ratings according to racial composition and student scores on the SDLRS; (3) Significant associations exist between the SDLRS scores and variables such as age, educational level and ARS (agreement response set).