Applying cognitive load theory to the redesign of a conventional database systems course

Cognitive load theory (CLT) was used to redesign a Database Systems course for Information Technology students. The redesign was intended to address poor student performance and low satisfaction, and to provide a more relevant foundation in database design and use for subsequent studies and industry. The original course followed the conventional structure for a database course, covering database design first, then database development. Analysis showed the conventional course content was appropriate but the instructional materials used were too complex, especially for novice students. The redesign of instructional materials applied CLT to remove split attention and redundancy effects, to provide suitable worked examples and sub-goals, and included an extensive re-sequencing of content. The approach was primarily directed towards mid- to lower performing students and results showed a significant improvement for this cohort with the exam failure rate reducing by 34% after the redesign on identical final exams. Student satisfaction also increased and feedback from subsequent study was very positive. The application of CLT to the design of instructional materials is discussed for delivery of technical courses.     

ASSESSING NEEDS FOR POSTSECONDARY VOCATIONAL HOME ECONOMICS INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA AND MATERIALS IN TEXAS

The Education Amendments of 1976 (PL 94‐482) provided funds for states to develop postsecondary vocational home economics instructional materials. To date, most states have not developed instructional materials designed for use at the postsecondary level. This report summarizes a needs assessment project designed to identify the specific needs instructors perceived for instructional materials in their subject area, as well as student characteristics and present use of instructional media and materials in Texas programs. The activities of the project included a nationwide search for existing materials suitable for use at the post‐secondary level; the preparation of four annotated bibliographies; and the development and statewide administration of a survey instrument. The survey revealed that the students of postsecondary vocational home economics were varied in characteristics; instructors used discussion, questioning, and lecture as the main teaching techniques; instructors would increase use of most types of instructional media and materials if more or better quality materials were available. Needs were perceived in each of the program areas: child development, food service/dietetics, fashion design/tailoring, and interior design.     

A Multi-Year Program Developing an Explicit Reflective Pedagogy for Teaching Pre-service Teachers the Nature of Science by Ostention

This investigation delineates a multi-year action research agenda designed to develop an instructional model for teaching the nature of science (NOS) to preservice science teachers. Our past research strongly supports the use of explicit reflective instructional methods, which includes Thomas Kuhn’s notion of learning by ostention and treating science as a continuum (i.e., comparing fields of study to one another for relative placement as less to more scientific). Instruction based on conceptual change precepts, however, also exhibits promise. Thus, the investigators sought to ascertain the degree to which conceptual change took place among students (n = 15) participating in the NOS instructional model. Three case studies are presented to illustrate successful conceptual changes that took place as a result of the NOS instructional model. All three cases represent students who claim a very conservative Christian heritage and for whom evolution was not considered a legitimate scientific theory prior to participating in the NOS instructional model. All three case study individuals, along with their twelve classmates, placed evolution as most scientific when compared to intelligent design and a fictional field of study called “Umbrellaology.”     

An approach to designing and evaluating blended courses

Recently, there has been an increased interest in producing electronic courses. However, literature shows that adopting e-learning does not guarantee improved learning. This is because mixing technology and content does not necessarily yield effective learning. This paper presents a systematic design process for developing blended courses for undergraduate higher education. The instructional design process is based on instructional design theories and utilized three taxonomies: Bloom Taxonomy, Redeker Taxonomy and Guerra scale. A mapping model is proposed and embedded in the design process to develop a blended course starting from the objectives and content of a traditional course. This paper also presents a evaluation process that estimates the effectiveness of the selected technologies in the design of the blended course. This effectiveness is evaluated in terms of three dimensions: course content formats, interaction and collaboration. A case study is presented to demonstrate the proposed design approach on a System Analysis and Design blended course under development.     

The effectiveness of blended online learning courses at the community college level

Whether through the use of online-only or hybrid/blended formats, colleges and universities across the country are increasingly utilizing online platforms as a medium for the delivery of instruction. At the same time, we know little about how student learning outcomes are related to students’ engagement with online instructional formats. In particular, few studies have evaluated online learning in community colleges, and fewer yet have employed an experimental or quasi-experimental design to do so. In this research, we use propensity score matching to compare learning gains between community college students enrolled in blended courses, (courses that combine online instructional delivery with traditional classroom-based instruction) with gains experienced by students receiving only classroom-based instruction. Among students enrolled in blended courses, we also consider which aspects of student use of online instructional materials are most strongly associated with student learning. While some evidence has suggested significantly poorer outcomes for community college students enrolled in online-only courses, our results suggest that students enrolled in blended courses perform similarly, if not better, relative to students in a traditional instructional setting. Implications for practice and research are discussed.     

乔纳森建构主义学习环境设计理论的系统研究与当代启示

作为当代美国教学设计领域的领军人物,乔纳森提出了建构主义学习环境设计的理论与模型,对教学设计的发展产生了很大影响。本文主要针对建构主义学习环境设计模型,以及与该模型相关的研究和案例进行了系统的分析与评介,并基于对乔纳森建构主义学习环境设计理论的理解,从教学设计方法、技术观和实践三方面提出了我国教学设计研究可借鉴的新思路或新路径。     

让生物教材为学生的发展服务——以“探索生命”一章的教学为案例

在新课改的过程中,教师不应该被教材所累,而是应把教材当作教学设计的素材,让教材为学生的发展服务。因此,要根据新课程标准的理念,整合所选用教材及其他教学资源,进行适合本校学生情况和现有条件的教学。文章以“探索生命”这一章的教学为案例,揭示了一个一线生物教师在进行新课改过程中形成的新教材观。     

Creativity in the training and practice of instructional designers: the Design/Creativity Loops model

This article presents a discussion of research and theoretical perspectives on creativity and instructional design, offering a conceptual model of the connection between these two constructs that was originally proposed in the dissertation work of the first author (Clinton, Creativity and design: A study of the learning experience of instructional design and development graduate students, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, Athens, 2007) and that we call the Design/Creativity Loops (DCL) model. Central to the model is a representation of the iterative, looping problem-solving cycle that can include established stages of creative thinking. As an instructional designer is routinely confronted with the next task or design problem in a project, these tasks or problems spawn iterative mental excursions that are opportunities for creative thinking. This article also explores ways that the design and development process can benefit from an emphasis on creativity and offers suggested directions for future research.     

Instructional Design and the Importance of Instructional Alignment

This paper highlights the instructional design process followed by the Maricopa Community College faculty in the creation of instructional modules in Digital Visual Literacy. The paper categorizes 10 tasks that an instructional designer, a teacher, or a trainer performs during the design phase of the instructional design process. The importance of alignment between each of these 10 instructional elements is stressed in the paper. Also described are two different design models (top-down model and the matrix model) that were used by the faculty in the design of instructional materials. The matrix model has been found to be more effective in aligning the 10 instructional elements. Also included are survey results on the importance of the instructional design elements and if instructors include these elements in their lesson design in a community college setting.     

Contextualizing learning in the World Wide Web: accounting for the impact of culture

There is a developing urgency about how Australian universities should best make use of the World Wide Web (WWW) to meet the needs of culturally diverse students, especially those of Asian origin. This urgency is the result of both global and internal pressures, some political, (consider the imminence of the 'Hanson movement' against a multicultural Australia), some economic, some social. Moreover, to miss the current opportunity to exploit WWW technologies to design, implement and market effective instructional courses will only work to disadvantage Australia in a growing but globally competitive educational market. One of the most pressing problems in this context is how to provide instructional materials in a model of teaching and learning that is cost-effective, makes extensive use of WWW technologies to provide for flexibility in learning, and that is culturally appropriate. This paper outlines an approach and model for investigating and developing culturally appropriate instructional materials. It is hoped that through publication, we might obtain feedback on the validity of this model and also widen the potential of its scope beyond its immediate application to the Australian context. The following hypotheses are central to our work: (1) Existing cultural influences in instructional materials designed and delivered on the WWW by Australian universities, and intended for use by culturally diverse students, are minimal and ineffective. (2) The efficacy of learning based in the use of the WWW for instructional purposes can be improved by the adoption of a culturally appropriate model of instructional design. (3) Culture is a significant factor in determining the effectiveness of learning materials created in the WWW and intended for use by culturally diverse students. In testing these hypotheses, we intend to provide the empirical research to help determine the most appropriate ways of using the WWW to stimulate effective learning at tertiary level for all learners, whatever their cultural heritage or perspectives     

网络教学模式探究

随着网络技术的发展,网络教学已成为现实.在调查网络课程现状的基础上,对网络教学的模式进行了分类,并分别讨论了各种网络教学模式的特点,信息流程,教与学的关系,对加强网上教学的实践与应用提出了见解.     

Development and evaluation of the organic chemistry-specific achievement emotions questionnaire (AEQ-OCHEM)

Affect is associated with success and persistence in STEM courses and degree programs. Measurement tools that produce valid and reliable data are essential to capturing the impact of evidenced-based instructional practices and reformed curricula on learning. We report the development of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire for use in postsecondary organic chemistry courses (AEQ-OCHEM). Instrument development was based on the control-value theory of achievement emotions and included a revision of the seminal Achievement Emotions Questionnaire (AEQ) used to measure institutional-level learning. A thorough psychometric evaluation of the AEQ-OCHEM was conducted including alternative measurement models and an extensive investigation of the nomological framework. All AEQ-OCHEM subscales were determined to be coherent and distinct. Implications for future research using the AEQ-OCHEM are offered. A call for the development of more discipline- and course-based instruments is made. Finally, tools that measure achievement emotions in the context of instructional laboratories and undergraduate research are needed for more robust considerations of affect in STEM contexts.     

网络课程中的教学设计

建构主义理论指导下的教学设计,在远程教育网络教学中的应用主要体现在网络课程资源的设计与开发和网络课程的教学过程控制两个方面。在遵循教学设计一般规律的同时,还应充分考虑网络环境的创设和条件的限制。     

远程开放教育教学资源共建共享的探讨——以云南民俗风情旅游课程为例

教学资源的建设和共享对远程教育的发展具有重要意义,也是提高远程教学资源应用效益,实行远程教育低成本扩张的重要条件。借鉴国内外远程开放教育教学资源共建共享的主要做法、典型案例和发展趋势,结合云南电大开放教育学院云南民俗风情旅游课程教学资源共建共享的设计实践,远程开放教育课程教学资源共建共享应从多媒体教材编写和精品课程制作、共建共享平台发布和课程交流三个方面努力。     

Development of Preservice Teachers’ Ability to Critique and Adapt Inquiry-based Instructional Materials

Current standards emphasize student engagement with inquiry practices. However, implementing inquiry instruction is a formidable challenge for teachers as they often lack models for using and adapting inquiry-based instructional materials. Teacher education programs can provide scaffolded contexts for developing teachers’ ability to critique, adapt, and design inquiry-based materials. We describe a qualitative study of 17 preservice teachers enrolled in two consecutive science methods courses. The study characterizes the development of preservice teachers’ ability to critique and revise instructional materials. Our findings suggest that teachers improved in their ability to critique lesson plans and to suggest revisions that would make them more inquiry oriented. In particular, the teachers’ critiques and revisions increased in sophistication after engaging in instructional design activities during the second methods course.     

Everyone already has their community beyond the screen: reconceptualizing online learning and expanding boundaries

A constructivist learning paradigm emphasises authenticity as a required condition for learning. However, the design of an online learning environment is ultimately separate from learners’ real-life environments, it is inevitably challenging to make online learning authentic. In this article, the author aims to propose an alternative way of conceptualizing online learning and its boundaries, based on a double-layered Community of Practice model as a means to facilitate authentically constructivist online learning. The model conceptualizes online learning as interlinked processes of participation and socialization in multiple communities across online- and offline-“layers” of learners’ lives. The model guides online course designers in expanding the perceived boundaries of the course environments they design to include learners’ offline learning contexts. Instead of having an exclusive focus on providing learners with constructivist learning opportunities within a non-authentic course environment, the model suggests helping learners to engage in more personalized social learning activities situated in their everyday lives. The paper presents data from a series of case studies drawn from the author’s work that has examined students’ learning experiences in different kinds of online courses, unpacking and answering the central question of what authentically constructivist online learning looks like in each case. With a more holistic conceptualization of online learning, which recognizes and supports online learners’ simultaneous presence across internal and external communities, instructional designers may be able to facilitate learners’ more authentically constructivist learning experiences.