Personalized learning in iSTART: Past modifications and future design

Abstract

Computer-based learning environments (CBLEs) provide unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning at scale. One such system, iSTART (Interactive Strategy Training for Active Reading and Thinking) is an adaptive, game-based tutoring system for reading comprehension. This paper describes how efforts to increase personalized learning have improved the system. It also provides results of a recent implementation of an adaptive logic that increases or decreases text difficulty based on students’ performance rather than presenting texts randomly. High school students who received adaptive text selection showed increased sense of learning. Adaptive text selection also resulted in greater pre-training to post-training comprehension test gains, especially for less-skilled readers. The findings demonstrate that system-driven, just-in-time support consistent with the goals of personalized learning benefit the efficacy of computer-based learning environments.     

Component skills of text comprehension in less competent Chinese comprehenders

The present study examined the role of verbal working memory (memory span and tongue-twister), two-character Chinese pseudoword reading (two tasks), rapid automatized naming (RAN) (letters and numbers), and phonological segmentation (deletion of rimes and onsets) in inferential text comprehension in Chinese in 31 less competent comprehenders compared with 37 reading comprehension control students and 23 chronological age controls. It was hypothesized that the target students would perform poorly on these cognitive and linguistic tasks as compared with their controls. Furthermore, verbal working memory and pseudoword reading would explain a considerable amount of individual variation in Chinese text comprehension. RAN would have a nonsignificant role in text comprehension. Structural equation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression analyses generally upheld these hypotheses. Our findings support current literature of the role of verbal working memory in reading comprehension found in English. The results, however, suggest differential role of the constructs and the tasks in reading comprehension and provide some answers for comprehension impairment in Chinese students.     

语言理解及表达力先天发育水平表现因素研究

为了最大限度减少后天因素对语言理解及表达力先天发育水平的影响,以3岁幼儿为研究对象,在分析现有对语言理解及表达力研究的基础上,提出语言理解及表达力表现因素测评指标框架,依据其共性表现因素并结合3岁幼儿语言理解及表达力的个性表现,进行了测评指标实验研究。对西安地区不同水平幼儿园随机抽样的297名儿童进行测评,结果表明这种测评方法具有普适性与可操作性。     

元认知策略在英语听力自主学习中的应用

元认知策略能够帮助学习者提高听力学习效率,有效地开展听力自主学习,其主要包括制定学习计划、监控学习过程和评估学习效果三个方面。文章探讨了学生如何在听力自主学习中有效地运用元认知策略。     

学习型课堂:理解与建构

学习型课堂不仅是一种课堂形态,也是一种课堂理念、课堂结构与学习机制,它是课堂发展到一个较高水平阶段的标志。基于学习型组织的多维理性,实现学习型课堂三个维度的合理与均衡建构,就要将课堂目标资源凝聚成课堂愿景,重建学习共同体,促进学生从单维学习者角色向学研一体的双维角色的转变。     

高职高专英语应用能力B级阅读理解内容效度分析

阅读理解是高职高专英语应用能力B级考试的主要组成部分,阅读文章的内容效度是衡量试卷效度的重要指标之一。2007年12月至2010年6月间的江苏省英语应用能力B级考试真题6套,其阅读理解题的阅读文章总体符合要求,但也存在体裁单一、题材狭隘、易读度系数偏高、阅读技能考核不均衡等问题,命题人员可进一步注重文章的内容效度、加大试题难度、扩大题材的多样性。     

话语理解中的不自足语境

不自足语境是交际中的接受者由于缺乏准确解码的语境因素而形成的一种相对不充分语境.不自足语境的形成受到语境动态性特征、话语双方"不合作"的影响.不自足语境往往导致交流隔阂,但是有时它又是制造幽默效应的"包袱皮".     

中国英语学习者书面语中推导性话语标记语使用情况调查——一项基于语料库的研究

通过语料库文本分析的方式,把中国英语学习者（英语专业学生）书面语中推导性话语标记语的使用情况和英语本族语者使用情况进行对比。结果显示,（1）中国英语学习者书面语中推导性话语标记语的使用存在严重的过多和过少使用并存现象,且呈简单化、口语化倾向;（2）推导性标记语使用水平会随着学习者语言水平的提高而有所提高,但个别推导性标记语的使用具有语用＂石化＂特征。     

钢琴教学应注意培养学生的音乐表现力

钢琴演奏教学中注意学生音乐表现力的培养是十分重要的。文章从三个方面谈如何培养学生的音乐表现力问题：培养学生的音乐想象力,培养学生灵敏的听觉,培养学生对音乐的理解能力。     

元认知策略培训对高职英语专业学生阅读能力影响的实证研究

本文通过对本院商务英语专业学生的实证研究,探讨元认知策略培训对高职英语专业学生阅读能力的影响.实验证明元认知策略培训的确有助于提高学生的英语阅读能力,同时能够增强学生的自主学习能力,培养学生良好的学习习惯.本次实验为高职学生学习策略的研究以及教学改革的探索开辟了新的视野.