Efficacy of digital picture book enhancements grounded in multimedia learning principles: Dependent on age?

We designed an experiment with stratified randomization to investigate the effects of visual and auditory enhancements in digital picture books on comprehension and incidental word learning. Participants were 183 children aged 3, 4, and 5 years (81 girls and 102 boys) from childcare centers and schools in the Southwest USA. We contrasted the still-image condition (an onscreen picture book with a voice-over reading the narrative aloud) with three enhanced conditions: a digital book that included auditory and visual enhancements, only auditory enhancement, or only visual enhancement. All participants watched and listened thrice to the researcher-assigned digital picture book version within three weeks. The posttests assessed children's story comprehension and book-based vocabulary. The visual and auditory enhancements benefited children's story comprehension and book-based vocabulary. However, a version with auditory and visual enhancements was less beneficial for comprehension than versions with single (auditory or visual) enhancements, particularly in the youngest group.     

Children like it more but don’t learn more: Effects of esthetic visual design in educational games

Little is known about what design elements in digital learning games enhance learning; especially in the case of child audiences. This study examines the effects of a learning game’s visual design on perceived attractiveness and learning outcomes. We developed two visual designs for the game: one with supposedly high esthetic value and another with a low esthetic value. Participants (children between 9 and 11 years of age, N = 53) were randomly divided into two groups. Each group interacted with their assigned version for about 20 minutes and then evaluated its visual attractiveness without knowing about the other version. Then, they evaluated the attractiveness of the complementary version. As the next step, they evaluated both versions side-by-side. During the free-choice period, children could continue playing one of the game versions or a different game. They clearly preferred the high esthetic version in evaluations (d > 0.86) and in the free-choice period (62% preferred the high esthetic version of the target game), but this did not improve their learning outcomes (comprehension: d = –0.59; transfer: d = –0.16). Possible explanations of this effect are discussed in terms of cognitive load theory and cognitive-affective theory of learning from media.     

Cumulative versus rapid introduction of new information

This study investigated the way new information is presented to students. Subjects were 60 elementary and middle school students, most with learning disabilities. Students used two versions of a specially designed computer-assisted instruction (CAI) program. One version rapidly presented students with seven pieces of information (rapid-introduction group); the other cumulatively presented smaller "chunks" of information (cumulative-introduction group). Both groups worked to mastery level successfully but students in the cumulative group spent one-third the time, required fewer responses, showed less frustration, and made fewer errors in the process. Results suggest that students with learning disabilities need much more practice than most commercial CAI programs supply.     

Designable elements of integrative learning environments at the boundary of school and work: a multiple case study

Learning environment designs at the boundary of school and work can be characterised as integrative because they integrate features from the contexts of school and work. Many different manifestations of such integrative learning environments are found in current vocational education, both in senior secondary education and higher professional education. However, limited research has focused on how to design these learning environments and not much is known about their designable elements (i.e. the epistemic, spatial, instrumental, temporal and social elements that constitute the learning environments). The purpose of this study was to examine manifestations of two categories of integrative learning environment designs: designs based on incorporation; and designs based on hybridisation. Cross-case analysis of six cases in senior secondary vocational education and higher professional education in the Netherlands led to insights into the designable elements of both categories of designs. We report findings about the epistemic, spatial, instrumental, temporal and social elements of the studied cases. Specific characteristics of designs based on incorporation and designs based on hybridisation were identified and links between the designable elements became apparent, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the design of learning environments that aim to connect the contexts of school and work.

     

Leveraging competency framework to improve teaching and learning: A methodological approach

A number of engineering education programs have defined learning outcomes and course-level competencies, and conducted assessments at the program level to determine areas for continuous improvement. However, many of these programs have not implemented a comprehensive competency framework to support the actual delivery and assessment of an individual course. This paper highlights how a competency framework can be used across the life cycle of a course to effectively deliver and assess course content, and give valuable, timely feedback to students thus, improving teaching, student motivation and learning. A framework for leveraging course competencies during course design and delivery is presented, and addresses the following five phases of a course, namely, content design, assessment design, content delivery and assessment, assessment results analysis and feedback, and content review. Using a large first-year core course of the BSc (Information Systems Management) program, at School of Information Systems, Singapore Management University, Singapore—called Information Systems Software Foundation (ISSF)—as an example, this paper shows how course competencies support the framework’s five phases. Data from a student survey indicates that the framework has contributed to enhancing their motivation to learn, provides enhanced learning experiences in terms of helping students prepare for each assessment, providing better feedback by raising awareness of what they know and do not know, and revisiting topics that relate to competencies that have not been fully acquired. Results from interviewing instructors revealed that the competency framework provides valuable and timely feedback on how students are performing, and additionally what changes are required to both the content and method of delivery in order to improve teaching. This contributes towards more effectively closing the “teaching and learning loop”.     

Inferring Student Learning Behaviour from Website Interactions: A Usage Analysis

Web-based learning environments are now used extensively as integral components of course delivery in tertiary education. To provide an effective learning environment, it is important that educators understand how these environments are used by their students. In conventional teaching environments educators are able to obtain feedback on student learning experiences in face-to-face interactions with their students, enabling continual evaluation of their teaching programs. However, when students work in electronic environments, this informal monitoring is not possible; educators must look for other ways to attain this information. Capturing and recording student interactions with a website provides a rich source of information from data that is gathered unobtrusively. The aim of this study was firstly to explore what information can be gained from analysing student interactions with Web-based learning environments and secondly to determine the value of this process in providing information about student learning behaviours and learning outcomes. This study has provided critical information to educators about the learning behaviour of their students, informing future enhancements and developments to a courseware website and the teaching program it supports.     

Technology-assisted Learning

Information technology provides potential advantages for educational provision in terms of flexible access, decreased need for on-site teaching accommodation and enhanced explanations by the use of special electronic effects. However, in order for students to gain the maximum benefit from the use of technology to assist in learning, there are specific issues that must be addressed by those designing and providing this type of education. This paper highlights some of these issues. These include clarification of the teacher's role, the skills required and parameters which must be considered in facilitating information technology, assisted learning and the planning required to ensure that a coordinated educational experience is offered.     

Assessing the Precision of Multisite Trials for Estimating the Parameters of a Cross-Site Population Distribution of Program Effects

Multisite trials, which are being used with increasing frequency in education and evaluation research, provide an exciting opportunity for learning about how the effects of interventions or programs are distributed across sites. In particular, these studies can produce rigorous estimates of a cross-site mean effect of program assignment (intent-to-treat), a cross-site standard deviation of the effects of program assignment, and a difference between the cross-site mean effects of program assignment for two subpopulations of sites. However, to capitalize on this opportunity will require adequately powering future trials to estimate these parameters. To help researchers do so, we present a simple approach for computing the minimum detectable values of these parameters for different sample designs. The article then uses this approach to illustrate for each parameter, the precision trade-off between increasing the number of study sites and increasing site sample size. Findings are presented for multisite trials that randomize individual sample members and for multisite trials that randomize intact groups or clusters of sample members.     

A QUESTION OF TIMING: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SURVEY GRADUATES TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK ABOUT AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM?

When follow‐up surveys of graduates of Health Professional programs are used to obtain evaluative information about program components and processes, the timing of such a survey is an important consideration. Information may be collected at various points in time: at program end while the graduates are still on the premises, or at varying points after the graduates leave the educational institution. Follow‐up surveys of four classes of medical students and five classes of nursing students conducted at varying points in time are used to examine the effect of timing on the program feedback obtained. Graduate assessment of program features was consistent and stable even several years after program completion. Surveying students regarding their perceptions of their education shortly before graduation is recommended. This is less costly and provides information to program planners when it can have more immediate impact on program planning.     

Informing about climate change and invasive species: how the presentation of information affects perception of risk,emotions, and learning

Environmental issues such as climate change are becoming ever more important in today’s societies and politics. Information is spread by the media, for example, via the Internet or information brochures, employing different representational styles (e.g. sensational vs. neutral styles, emphasis of human vs. natural causes). We investigated the effects of such differences in presentation when informing about local impacts of climate change – more specifically about invasive species – on perceived risk, emotions, and learning. Seventy-two students at a German university read five brochures about the local effects of climate change and invasive species. They rated their perceived risk and emotions and worked on learning outcome tests. As expected, the sensational style led to higher perceived risk and stronger negative emotions than the neutral style. In addition, our results reveal a potential dilemma for environmental education: while a sensational style enhanced general learning outcomes, it seemed to lead to quite a negative and one-sided view about climate change and invasive species.     

Accountability conversations: mathematics teachers’ learning through challenge and solidarity

Teacher learning through professional development is a complex process and is not yet well understood. Some features of professional development programs are known to be important, such as a focus on learner needs, design of and reflection on classroom artefacts, and the creation and sustaining of communities of support for teacher professional learning. In this paper, we describe the workings of such communities in a teacher professional development program, which focused on learner errors in a well-researched mathematical topic—the equal sign. Drawing on data from program sessions where teachers discussed their lesson designs and reflections on their teaching with each other, we develop the notions of challenge and solidarity as important in developing accountability conversations among teachers. We show how our program supported teachers to challenge each other and to build solidarity with each other and in so doing to develop accountability to each other and the profession, for their practices and their learning.     

Residential and non-residential learning experiences: Perceptions and performance

This study examines the perceptions and performance of vocational teachers exposed to a residential or non-residential tertiary learning situation. The perceptions of both groups of teachers, relevant to the outcomes of the learning situation or attendance mode to which they had been exposed, were obtained by questionnaire. Lecturers who had experience of both learning situations were also surveyed on similar issues. Information was sought primarily about attitudes to social, communication and learning outcomes relevant to the mode of attendance undertaken. In addition, final academic results concerning a major project for both residential and non-residential teachers were compared. Both groups of respondents perceived some major differences in outcome for teachers exposed to a particular learning situation. The residential mode was generally seen to be most effective by teachers and lecturers in terms of the perceived greater opportunities it gave for the development of peer group and lecturer communication and support with effects on learning and improved choices of academic success. There was, however, in terms of final academic success measured, no significance between group differences. Overall it was found that a residential program may significantly improve group cohesion and communication compared to a similar nonresidential program but that those outcomes may not necessarily lead to improved learning performance.     

College Academic Assistance Programs and Practices

Most public institutions offer some form of academic assistance to help their students adjust to the demands of college level learning tasks. Because these academic assistance efforts vary considerably, ranging from an emphasis on functional reading to an emphasis on strategic learning, it is important to describe these programs and their instructional methodologies and to review the pertinent research supporting them. After examining four critical issues confronting all academic assistance programs, the authors examined the goals, assessment procedures, salient features, and program evaluation methods of four prevalent program models: learning to learn courses, supplemental instruction, required programs for underprepared students, and integrated reading/writing courses. They concluded by outlining suggestions for future research and by listing specific questions that college students need to ask about the programs at their institutions.     

Assurance of Learning in the MIS Program

This article describes the development of a systematic and practical methodology for assessing program effectiveness and monitoring student development in undergraduate decision sciences programs. The model we present is based on a student's progression through learning stages associated with four key competencies: technical, analytical, communicative, and managerial. Key learning activities are embedded in major courses, resulting in clear and documented demonstrated abilities from the student. The work is based upon what is formally known about student outcomes assessment and input from our own Management Information Systems (MIS) program stakeholders and accrediting bodies. The results of the assurance of learning model can be, in turn, used to refine curriculum and to meet accreditation standards.     

More than meets the eye: Curricular and Programmatic Effects on Student Learning

This article reports the effects of program characteristics and faculty activities on students’ experiences and, ultimately, the development of students’ analytical and group skills. Data come from nationally representative samples of 4,330 seniors, 1,243 faculty members, and 147 engineering program chairs on 40 campuses nationwide. Findings indicate that program characteristics and faculty behaviors and values have significant, if relatively small and largely indirect, effects on student learning by encouraging (or discouraging) certain kinds of student experiences, which, in turn, influence student learning. The results point to a need for more complex designs than are typically adopted in most learning outcomes studies. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Institutional Research, May 16, 2006, Chicago, IL.     

Learner control over full and lean computer-based instruction under differing ability levels

This study examined the effects of type of instructional control and program mode on the achievement, option use, time in the program, and attitudes of higher-ability and lower-ability university students. Ability level was determined using participants' Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing Assessment (ACT) scores. Participants were randomly assigned to four versions of a computer-delivered instructional program within higher-ability and lower-ability groups. The four versions of the instructional program were created by crossing the two control conditions (learner control, program control) with the two program modes (full, lean). Participants in the full program scored significantly higher on the posttest than those in the lean program, and higher-ability students scored significantly higher than lower-ability students. Learner-control participants chose to view 68% of the optional screens in the full program but only 35% in the lean one, and participants also spent significantly more time in the full version. Participants had more favorable attitudes toward learner control than program control.     

A Meta-analysis Method to Advance Design of Technology-Based Learning Tool: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research to Understand Learning in Relation to Different Technology Features

Educators design and create various technology tools to scaffold students’ learning. As more and more technology designs are incorporated into learning, growing attention has been paid to the study of technology-based learning tool. This paper discusses the emerging issues, such as how can learning effectiveness be understood in relation to different technology features? And how can pieces of qualitative and quantitative results be integrated to achieve a broader understanding of technology designs? To address these issues, this paper proposes a meta-analysis method. Detailed explanations about the structure of the methodology and its scientific mechanism are provided for discussions and suggestions. This paper ends with an in-depth discussion on the concerns and questions that educational researchers might raise, such as how this methodology takes care of learning contexts.     

基于程序理解的代码分析技术的研究与设计

本文针对目前代码分析方面存在的问题提出了基于程序理解环境而进行代码分析的技术方案,并对该技术方案进行分析和研究,找出程序理解和代码分析两者的技术对应点和数据接口,然后在此基础上设计出基于程序理解的代码分析技术框架,同时从该框架的层次结构和关键技术两个方面进行设计和验证。     

二语认知过程理论综述

二语认知过程理论以认知心理学为基础,研究二语学习的认知活动.信息加工理论使用不同层次的记忆来加工语言信息;记忆加工理论认为记忆是通过对二语的物理特征和语义特征加工而实现的,其加工痕迹的深浅反应不同的记忆水平;二语习得理论,Gass用五个阶段解释二语从输入到输出的转换过程.这些理论为二语学习的认知活动、二语教学与研究提供了理论依据.     

Elaborate analogies in science text: Tools for enhancing preservice teachers’ knowledge and attitudes

Preservice teachers studied texts about three fundamentally important science concepts. They read versions with no analogy, versions with a simple analogy, and versions with an elaborate analogy. An elaborate analogy is one that consists of text and pictorial components in which similarities between the analog and the target concept are made explicit. Verbal and imagery processes combine to promote a mapping of conceptual features. The findings indicated that elaborate analogies improved the science knowledge and attitudes of preservice teachers by relating what is familiar to what is new. The findings are consistent with a constructivist view of learning science and suggest that science texts for preservice teachers should be adapted to take advantage of elaborate analogies in a systematic way.