Investigate and Decide Learning Environments: Specializing Task Models for Authoring Tool Design

The complexities of building educational software can be reduced by relying on appropriate tools for adapting and re-using similar, previous applications. Although researchers have been creating tools for automating some aspects of software design, most of these tools typically aim for generality, attempting to cover a broad class of interactive programs in many domains. However, this approach may not be effective for building complex interactive systems, and fails to re-apply the instruction and design expertise implicit within prior software applications. An alternative is to provide tools which use specialized, rather than general, task models, tailored specifically to a target category of software. In addition, an understanding of the authoring task itself can inform the design of such specialized authoring environments. This article presents a prototype authoring tool for interactive educational software, called IDLE-Tool. Investigate and Decide Learning Environments (IDLE) is introduced as the task model around which the tool is based, and a model of the authoring process, called Guided Case Adaptation, is offered as an approach to employing the model and an exemplar in tandem to effectively support the design process.     

The ARIADNE Project (Part 2): Knowledge Pools for Computer-based and Telematics-supported Classical,Open and Distance Education

This paper presents the tools and methodologies underlying the ARIADNE framework for enabling open and distance education and for enhancing more conventional training schemes. The ARIADNE concept relies on a distributed knowledge pool system that stores pedagogically indexed educational resources, as well as on a set of tools and methodologies for authoring curricula. The basic approach is one of share and reuse. Specialized authoring tools are under development for the production of simulations, multiple-choice questionnaires and auto-evaluation exercises. Segmentation tools for video and text-based material, with integrated facilities for hypertext generation, are also under development. The distributed knowledge pool system consists of one central knowledge pool, and a number of local knowledge pools. Corporate training systems can also be built around private knowledge pools. Before pedagogical documents can be inserted into the knowledge pool system, their pedagogical and other characteristics must be described. A pedagogical header generator tool assists in this task. Pedagogical engineers can define the spatio-temporal, socio-pedagogic process that we call a curriculum, and choose the active and expositive documents that embody it, by using a curriculum editor. Finally, students consult or work with the documents of the curriculum they subscribed to, through a personalized view provided by the ARIADNE learner interface.     

Authoring and GTE

This paper examines GTE from an authoring perspective. It describes how GTE may be used to create a piece of courseware and reviews the potential difficulties that authors face when using such a tool. It summarises two studies that were carried out to investigate how GTE is used by actual authors, and concludes that GTE designs are hard for authors to test and evaluate because of the complexity of such designs. It finishes by arguing that authoring tool developers should give greater consideration to supporting the task of authoring, and that such consideration should occur at all stages of a new tool's development.     

AIDA: An integrated authoring environment for educational software

This paper describes an integrated authoring environment, AIDA (Ambiente Integrado de Desenvolvimento de Aplicações educacionais). It is an open tool, giving the author a high degree of freedom both in package characteristics and design methodologies used. This environment integrates several modules. The core of the design module is a prototyping tool, allowing the creation of evolutionary prototypes. These prototypes can include several types of multimedia components and can be used as part of the final package. The AIDA environment also includes other options that support evaluation, learning materials re-use, communication between authoring team members and translation and cultural adaptation of packages to work in different environments. An experimental version of this authoring environment was implemented and the results of its evaluation are encouraging. In this paper we also present an example of a package created with the AIDA authoring environment.     

AIDA: a methodology independent support tool for educational software authoring

Many authoring tools have been proposed in an attempt to find more effective ways to face the challenge of developing educational software. However, most of them are reported to be restrictive, since they are strongly connected to a specific educational software development methodology. The AIDA (Ambiente Integrado para o Desenvolvimento de Aplicações educacionais) authoring environment was developed at the University of Coimbra having as its main objectives the support of most of the activities involved in authoring and making educational software development easier. The AIDA system is based on a design module, i.e. a prototyping tool allowing the creation of Windows-based software, including multimedia features. The system assists evaluation activities and it caters also for support on translation and cultural adaptation, as well as on the reutilization of educational materials. The use of the AIDA environment is illustrated by three small examples using different development methodologies.     

Interactive technology and authoring tools: A historical review and analysis

Computer systems, interactive technologies, and the software tools for authoring multimedia programs have evolved over the past several decades. The evolution of multimedia technology is discussed and current alternatives for authoring multimedia programs are described. Issues related to analyzing authoring tool requirements and selecting software are presented and trends in the evolution of authoring tools are identified. Many factors affecting the selection and use of authoring software are exogenous to the technology itself. Both technological trends and market forces must be considered.     

An authoring and learning kit for digital electronics

A multimedia component kit for digital electronics authoring and learning is presented. It is based on a sophisticated structuring mechanism and a flexible link management scheme. Components available on the Internet facilitate sharing and reuse of educational software during the authoring process, make possible the support of all phases of the learning process, and allow students to achieve their desired depth of understanding. Emphasis is put on the implementation of a great number of components based on simulation and animation that provide a high level of interactivity and allow some presentation difficulties inherent in the subject to be overcome. An analysis of the impact of using the kit for authoring and learning is currently being performed.     

Dynamic Courseware Generation on the WWW

We have developed a tool for the authoring of adaptive CAL courses, called "Dynamic Courseware Generator" (DCG). It generates an individual course according to the learner's goals and previous knowledge, and dynamically adapts the course according to the learner's success in acquiring knowledge. The DCG runs on a WWW server. The learner receives from this server an individualised course targeted to a specified goal. Afterwards, s/he is adaptively guided by the course through a space of teaching materials on the WWW. Unlike other CAL courses on the WWW, a course produced by the DCG is interactive, it tests the learner's knowledge and dynamically adapts to the student's progress. The authoring tool can be used also for collaborative authoring and learning.     

E-learning中基于Web的概念图协同创作系统研究

概念图是学生协作知识建构的一种有效支持工具,然而在Web环境下概念图的协同创作系统的研究却并不多见。鉴于此,文章通过对协作学习中概念图的理论研究,分析了概念图协作创建过程中学习者的认知过程,设计了基于概念图的协作知识建构的理论模型,设计了概念图协作创作系统的功能模型和动态模型,介绍了基于Flex和FMS技术的系统实现方案,讨论了系统功能和实现过程。文章的研究成果能丰富协作知识建构的理论研究,推进概念图在网络协作学习实践中的应用。     

Enhancing problem-based learning designs with a single e-learning scaffolding tool: Two case studies using challenge FRAP

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a powerful instructional approach. By working through assessable complex problem-solving tasks learners can be encouraged to actively engage in investigation and inquiry and to use high level cognitive thought processes to solve real-life problems in professional contexts. A critical element of a successful PBL design is the inclusion of instructional support, such as scaffolding, to guide and assist the learner through the reasoning process that is crucial to successful problem-solving. The e-learning tool ‘Challenge FRAP’ (Form for the Recording of the Analysis of Problems) is client-based public domain authoring software which facilitates the use of scaffolding, the provision of progressive feedback and can promote student reflection at key decision-making points. This paper illustrates the benefits of such an e-learning scaffolding tool through two PBL case studies; one group-based PBL task in science and technology and one self-directed PBL task in plant pathology.     

ESCOT: Coordinating the Influence of R&D and Classroom Practice to Produce Educational Software From Reusable Components

In a 3-year project, a consortium of university, nonprofit and commercial educational software developers formed a testbed for the rapid assembly of educational software from reusable component tools. This testbed incorporated interactive learning tools from a variety of university, nonprofit, and commercial developers, and hosted decentralized authoring teams consisting of teachers, developers and educational technologists. Within its testbed, the Educational Software Components of Tomorrow (ESCOT) project achieved notable success in (a) producing a large collection of technology-rich learning activities with reuse rates estimated at 90% and (b) scaffolding authoring teams in successful and rewarding collaborative development experiences. Fortunately, since ESCOT was funded as a National Science Foundation research project, we have had time to reflect on the conditions that led to our achievements. In this article, we reflect on the three activities of the project that we believe were most responsible for its success: (1) the selection of a unit of software production (2) the development of a strategy to allow reuse of interoperable software components and (3) the structuring of a distributed, team-based authoring process. We observe that a common characteristic across these activities was reciprocal influence from both the fields of research-based software development and teaching practice.     

教学中的信息本质与智能教学系统元信息结构研究

为简化智能教学系统设计,增强可维护性,提出了一种信息元结构。通过分析教学过程中的认识论信息内涵,得出授课单元的三元信息结构:内容、条件和效用。建立了基于该结构的智能教学系统创作工具的工作模型,证实了它能够支持高效清晰的智能教学系统创作。     

The Assessment Agent System: design, development, and evaluation

This article reports the design, development, and evaluation of an online software application for assessing students’ understanding of curricular content based on concept maps. This computer-based assessment program, called the Assessment Agent System, was designed by following an agent-oriented software design method. The Assessment Agent System is composed of five types of software agents: instructor agent, student agent, management agent, assessment agent, and reporting agent. Software agents in the system, through communication and cooperation, collectively provide the functionalities of user-system interaction, user management, task authoring and management, assessment delivery, task presentation, response collection, automatic assessment, and reporting. One-to-one evaluations and group evaluations were conducted to reveal students’ perceptions of the Assessment Agent System. Measures of visual clarity, system functionality, consistency, as well as error prevention and correction indicate that the Assessment Agent System is a useful tool for large-scale assessment based on concept maps. Through the process of design, development, and evaluation of the Assessment Agent System, this study demonstrates the agent-oriented approach for producing educational software applications. Furthermore, this research explored the concept map assessment method for the Assessment Agent System. When node terms and linking phrases are provided, the assessment of student concept maps can be conducted automatically by comparing student concept maps with the criterion concept map, proposition by proposition. However, the validity of the proposition-comparing method depends on the accuracy and thoroughness of the criterion propositions. Therefore, assessment criteria need to be continually refined and improved through the examination of student-created propositions.     

Computer-based assessment of Complex Problem Solving: concept, implementation, and application

Complex Problem Solving (CPS) skills are essential to successfully deal with environments that change dynamically and involve a large number of interconnected and partially unknown causal influences. The increasing importance of such skills in the 21st century requires appropriate assessment and intervention methods, which in turn rely on adequate item construction, delivery, and scoring. The lack of assessment tools, however, has slowed down research on and understanding of CPS. This paper first presents the MicroDYN framework for assessing CPS, which is based on linear structural equation systems with input and output variables and opaque relations among them. Second, a versatile assessment platform, the CBA Item Builder, which allows the authoring, delivery, and scoring of CPS tasks for scientific and educational purposes is introduced. Third, we demonstrate the potential of such a tool for research by reporting an experimental study illustrating the effect of domain specific content knowledge on performance in CPS tasks both on an overall performance and on a process level. The importance of accessible and versatile technical platforms not only for assessment and research but also for intervention and learning are discussed with a particular focus on educational contexts.     

Equipping novice teachers with a learning map to enhance teaching practice

Using tools to support learning design has been proven feasible in improving the integration of technology into the curriculum. However, novice teachers are faced with two major issues, including their limited experience in learning design and limited ability in using new technologies. Learning map is explored and developed in e-Textbooks to serves as a scaffolding for novice teachers during their development into expert teachers. This paper presents a case study in which learning map is integrated into learning design with associated resources in an e-Textbook authoring environment. The participants were instructed to complete a learning design task for an e-Textbook during a one-hour session and then complete a questionnaire afterward. The results indicate that novice teachers value the learning map for learning design in e-Textbooks regardless of their background in ICT teaching and learning design. Novice teachers adopt positive attitudes toward the use of templates because of their numerous benefits. The teachers also suggested that better quality templates should be integrated into the authoring tool to distinguish the advantage of e-Textbook learning design from that of a traditional book and to provide them with additional options.     

Pilot use of digital educational comics in language teaching

This paper presents a case study about the use of digital comics in teaching modern Greek in high schools (aged 12–13). The ultimate goal of the educational use of digital comics is to promote students’ acquisition of language skills and to help them apply their imaginations and reuse their cultural experiences in creating multimodal comic‐like digital stories. The core idea of this case study, which was conducted at a high school in Greece, was to provide the opportunity to students become authors of their own digital comic stories using an innovative authoring tool called ComicLab.     

对网络课程写作工具的一点思考

本文从网络课程目标、流程化与自动化操作、模板化操作与交互式可视化的编辑环境四个维度揭示了现在的网络课程写作工县应该具备的设计思想。基于以上这四个维度，初步搭建了一类网络课程写作工具，并对其结构与功能进行详细的阐述。     

Information,Instruction, and Learning: A Hypermedia Perspective Originally published in 1991, PIQ 4.3

Hypermedia as defined by Osgood (1987) is a tool for linking nonlinear information presented in the form of graphics, animation, video, and sound. One important question for instructional designers regarding hypermedia is how it can be used as an instructional or learning tool that enhances rather than inhibits learning. Creating hypermedia applications is a quick and easy alternative to creating courseware with older authoring systems and languages which took many hours to learn. This ease of application creation, combined with a tremendous increase in information available to our society, has resulted in a proliferation of hypermedia databases in school, university, and industry settings that is gradually moving into homes. Many of these databases are simply information media. This paper identifies important issues related to classifying a hypermedia-based information system appropriately. Based on a discussion of these issues, a call for systematic research which clarifies the role that hypermedia-based information systems can and should play in an instructional or learning environment is set forth.     

Evaluation of a Computer-Supported Learning System

Educational content on the Internet is rapidly increasing. Academics and businesses are placing more course material online to supplement classroom and business training situations. In addition, significant increases in undergraduate enrollments in information system courses, and the rapid pace of new knowledge in the field, have led researchers to call for new innovative approaches to learning. Prior researchers have reported that this new Web‐based training technology (which has its foundation in computer‐based training) has not integrated sound pedagogical practices into the authoring process when developing new tutorials. This paper summarizes an experiment to evaluate the effect on posttest scores of a Web‐based authoring tool that prompts the developer to build multiple presentation styles into the learning module. Early results indicate that the tool is more effective than traditional HTML‐authoring tools and that the number of exercises affects posttest scores in a positive manner. No effect on posttest scores was observed for the number of examples in the learning module.     

A concept to simplify authoring of adaptive hypermedia eLearning structures

Adaptive Learning Systems have been developed to improve learning success by increasing learner satisfaction, learning speed, and educational effectiveness. However, authoring adaptive eLearning structures is still a complicated task for lecturers, because they are unaccustomed to the way of thinking and to the workflows that are needed for the creation process. This paper describes a research project developing a concept that helps authors with the structure creation process, focussed on sequencing of content. Therefore, the issue was approached from the authors' perspective. First, storytelling theory has helped understand content structures and provided insights into how authors work. Second, by investigating the linear structure of learning content, information for sequencing could be extracted, providing the basis for an approach that is based on relations of different authors' content, and defining interdependencies that delinearise the content structure.