Case-based reasoning and instructional design: Using stories to support problem solving

With an increased emphasis on problem solving and problem-based learning in the instructional design field, new methods for task analysis and models for designing instruction are needed. An important methodology for both entails the elicitation, analysis, and inclusion of stories as a primary form of instructional support while learning to solve problems. Stories are the most natural and powerful formalism for storing and describing experiential knowledge that is essential to problem solving. The rationale and means for analyzing, organizing, and presenting stories to support problem solving are defined by case-based reasoning. Problems are solved by retrieving similar past experiences in the form of stories and applying the lessons learned from those stories to the new problems. In this paper, after justifying the use of stories as instructional supports, we describe methods for eliciting, indexing, and making stories available as instructional support for learning to solve problems.     

Investigating strategies for using related cases to support design problem solving

Case-based learning has long been used to bring students into contact with the complexity of real-world situations. Despite this popularity and considerable history, research into how case analysis can support future problem-solving has been limited. The study reported in this paper investigated learners’ understanding of multimedia instructional design and development derived from the analysis of two richly detailed cases, and how this understanding then supported learners in their own design projects. A qualitative case study approach was used to follow a class of Masters students engaged in a technology-supported, case-based learning environment. Student work from case analysis, group project and reflective tasks was the key data source, complemented by interviews with students and their instructor, observations of class meetings, and the collection of online discussion list records and electronic resource files. The study found that the case analysis task raised learners’ awareness of design approaches and project management strategies, and that discussion and reflection play critical roles in developing students’ understanding. The study also highlighted some limitations of the case approach, suggesting the need for strategies that support learners’ thinking and reasoning.     

从教学过程设计转向信息技术支持的学习环境设计

由于中美两国历史文化背景的差异,在学科演化和发展上也呈现不同的道路,引进的教学设计在中国遭到了已有的"教学论"的质疑。对教学设计的概念重新进行梳理后,重新解读了中国的"教学设计"的内涵,以期能抛砖引玉,促进教学设计在中国的健康发展。     

An online support system to scaffold real-world problem solving

The article presents a reusable online support system, in which an open-ended learning environment is created to scaffold complex, real-world problem solving activities. The major learning components of the system are specifically described, and the internal interactions between different components within the system and the external interactions among the system, learners (who also interact with one another among themselves), instructors, and administrators are demonstrated. The learning theories and the assumptions underpinning the system design framework are discussed in terms of each of the system components: case library with real-world cases, question prompts, peer review, expert modelling, and self-reflection mechanisms. In conclusion, initial findings about the support system are shared, and issues regarding reusability, adaptivity, and generativity of the system are addressed focusing on developing novice learners' problem solving skills in various domains and contexts. The article proposes a cognitive model for contextualizing learning scenarios to support real-world problem solving, which has implications for designing e-learning.     

语义维基概述

从语义维基的定义入题,简要地介绍了当前语义维基的系统构成、研究热点及优缺点。当前的维基系统知识结构差,检索困难,极大阻碍了知识的进一步分享。语义维基(Semantic Wiki)希望在语义层次上通过重新组织知识结构,使知识能够被机器所理解和处理,让机器帮助我们检索知识。     

The design and evaluation of hypertext structures for supporting design problem solving

Computer-based complex information systems are used increasingly more often, for a growing variety of purposes, in both educational and professional contexts. Since the effectiveness of information systems will largely depend on the particular purpose and the particular task context at hand, at least part of our research efforts should be directed at studying specific application areas. This paper reports a study on the use of hypertext information systems during architectural-design problem solving. Theoretical notions on design problem solving, such as distinguishing between a problem-structuring and a problem-solving phase, provide us with expectations about the changing informational needs during the design process. Specific information structures are proposed, incorporating design principles from learning research, to accommodate these informational needs. Results of an empirical study indeed showed interactions between design phase and information structure when separately inspecting the outcomes for problem structuring and problem solving. Educational implications include the use of a combination of hierarchical decomposition and cross-referencing for certain instructional goals, such as teaching complexity and abstraction.     

Toward a design theory of problem solving

Problem solving is generally regarded as the most important cognitive activity in everyday and professional contexts. Most people are required to and rewarded for solving problems. However, learning to solve problems is too seldom required in formal educational settings, in part, because our understanding of its processes is limited. Instructional-design research and theory has devoted too little attention to the study of problem-solving processes. In this article, I describe differences among problems in terms of their structuredness, domain specificity (abstractness), and complexity. Then, I briefly describe a variety of individual differences (factors internal to the problem solver) that affect problem solving. Finally, I articulate a typology of problems, each type of which engages different cognitive, affective, and conative processes and therefore necessitates different instructional support. The purpose of this paper is to propose a metatheory of problem solving in order to initiate dialogue and research rather than offering a definitive answer regarding its processes. This paper represents an effort to introduce issues and concerns related to problem solving to the instructional design community. I do not presume that the community is ignorant of problem solving or its literature, only that too little effort has been expended by the field in articulating design models for problem solving. There are many reasons for that state of affairs. The curse of any introductory paper is the lack of depth in the treatment of these issues. To explicate each of the issues raised in this paper would require a book (which is forthcoming), which makes it unpublishable in a journal. My purpose here is to introduce these issues in order to stimulate discussion, research, and development of problem-solving instruction that will help us to articulate better design models.     

游戏化学习环境下的教学设计原则

文章从分析如何带给学习者心流体验入手,系统并深入地阐释了游戏化学习状态下达到心流的教学设计关键环节设计原则,着重探讨了适应性、沉浸感、成就感、持续感的设计原则。文章认为,从带给学生心流体验入手,在以学为主的教学设计流程中合理设计相关环节引导学生进入心流体验,是提升游戏化学习效果的关键。     

提高学生在线学习主动性的课程设计策略

如何提高在线学习环境中学生的学习主动性是近年来教育界讨论的热点问题。本文根据在线学习环境的特点,从课程设计策略的角度出发,提出了目标人群信息分析、提供以学习为中心的教学大纲、提供具有概括和引导作用的先导性材料、设计鼓励主动学习的教学活动、创建鼓励交流的虚拟学习社区,以及采用形成性的学习评价方式等有利于提高在线学习环境中学生学习主动性的课程设计策略。     

少数民族双语教育的信息化教学设计研究

将信息化教学资源与工具应用于少数民族双语教育,可以降低双语教学难度,促进少数民族学生的知识学习。然而,目前在少数民族双语教育的信息化教学中,存在着信息化教学资源应用水平不高、教学设计照搬汉语教学模式、教师信息化教学设计能力有待提高等问题。根据教学设计、双语教学、认知心理学和信息化教学等理论,可以构建少数民族双语教育的信息化教学设计流程。少数民族双语教育的信息化教学实施策略包括:调研教学现状,分析民族双语教育信息化教学的不足;针对学生特征,进行少数民族双语教育的信息化教学设计;实施教学活动,收集教学问题;评价教学效果,完善少数民族双语教育的信息化教学设计。     

网络环境下自我调控能力培养的教学设计研究

随着网络环境下教学的深入开展,如何提高网络环境下学习者的学习质量,就成了我们面临的一个重大课题,而提高学生的自我调控能力是提高网络环境下学习者学习效果的根本所在。本文从自我调控的概念出发,分析了网络环境下学习者自我调控的影响因素,并根据网络环境下教学设计的基本理论和指导原则,对网络环境下学习者自我调控能力培养的教学设计模型进行了初步探讨。     

信息化环境下课程教学设计特征分析

信息化环境下的教学设计较之传统环境下的教学设计有明显不同,本文分析了信息化环境下课程教学设计的主要特征,包括学习目标制定的多维性与可视化、更加强调学习内容的模块化与非线性、突出学习过程的自我设计性、学习评价与反馈的及时性以及强调全方位的学习支持服务等,可为信息化环境下的课程教学设计提供明确的思路。     

信息技术环境下的教学设计

教学过程是个动态的过程,涉及到的环境因素如学习者、教师、信息、媒体等也都处于不断变化之中,因此教学设计工作具有非常灵活的特点,应该改变观念,对教学设计进行新的认识,赋予新的内容,从而开发有自己特色的教学设计模式。     

Writing learning journals: Instructional support to overcome learning-strategy deficits

Although writing learning journals is a powerful learning tool, instructional support is needed to overcome deficits in the use of self-regulated learning strategies. In a 2 × 2 experimental design with high-school students (N = 70), we analysed the effects of two modes of instruction (namely, informed prompting and learning-journal example) along with prompts. Informed prompting that provided background information on the prompted strategies enhanced learning in the training and transfer session. A learning-journal example that modelled the application of the strategies primarily fostered the strategy used in the training session and learning in the transfer session. Theoretically, the results provide support for the self-regulation view of writing-to-learn.