Research into Practice: Current Trends in Educational Technology Research: The Study of Learning Environments

Educational technology research has passed through a number of stages, focusing, in turn, on the content to be learned, the format of instructional messages, and the interaction between computers and students. The field is now concerned with the study of learning in complete, complex, and interactive learning environments. These environments allow both the simulation of experiences that students might have in the real world and also the creation of compelling experiences that cannot normally be experienced directly. Learning environments also often allow students to communicate their own ideas with the use of a variety of symbol systems. These environments are also frequently inhabited by more than one person, making learning within them a social activity where learning is distributed among both people and artifacts. Finally, these learning environments are complex. Studying how they contribute to learning therefore requires research methods other than controlled experiments. This paper reviews research on learning environments to give both an historical perspective on educational technology research and a selective view of the current state of the discipline. It concludes by identifying implications for both practice and future research.     

远程教育的时间观--从人类学的观点看

通过梳理时间概念的历史,以及借鉴教育人类学对时间问题的研究成果,可以得出这样的结论：远程教育利用其媒体技术创造了一种可以称作为“虚时间”的新的时间形态,这使得远程教育在克服时间距离方面出现了可能,但同时也在师生沟通方面增加了其他难度,     

Developing a virtual engineering management community

The paper reviews the lessons of planning and running an Engineering Management practitioner development programme in a partnership between BP and the University of Manchester. This distance-learning programme is for professional engineers in mid-career experienced in the engineering and support activities for delivering safe, compliant and reliable projects and operations worldwide. The programme concentrates on the why and how of leadership and judgement in managing the engineering of large and small projects and operational support. Two intensive residential weeks are combined with a virtual learning environment over one year. Assessed assignments between and after the residential weeks provide opportunities for individual reflective learning for each delegate through applying concepts and the lessons of case studies to their experience, current challenges and expected responsibilities. This successful partnership between a major global company and a university rich in research and teaching required a significant dedication of intellectual and leadership effort by all concerned. The rewards for both parties and most importantly for the engineers themselves are extensive.     

基于VRML技术的虚拟装配实验方法研究

对虚拟装配技术做了简单介绍,并以实例论述了虚拟模型设计及VRML装配程序编制过程,说明利用三维设计软件和VRML技术进行虚拟装配实验,可以经济快捷地提高模型对象的真实感和互动性,具有十分重要的参考价值。     

基于虚拟现实技术的企业认知实践教学设计与仿真实验开发

机械类专业学生企业认知学习的目标和任务是使学生了解企业生产和工作环境,增加学生对机械专业工作岗位群的感性认识,并通过理论联系实际初步培养学生的工程意识、工程素质和工程实践能力,为今后进一步学好各门专业课奠定基础。而由于实习学生人数多、学生实习既耽误工作又妨碍生产,因此很多企业都不太愿意接收学生在企业实习,实习企业难找是目前大部分机械类专业面临的共性问题。本论文针对实习企业难找的问题,利用虚拟现实技术设计了以真实存在企业环境为基础的虚拟认知实践教学环境,并开发了可完成仿真实验的数字化虚拟工厂。基于虚拟现实技术的数字化工厂有效解决了学生实习企业难找的问题,为实习学生提供了不到工厂也能参观企业的各个部门及生产车间、了解生产流程、熟悉各类生产设备和工艺的平台。     

Impact of Anatomy Boot Camp on Students in a Medical Gross Anatomy Course

Lincoln Memorial University‐DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU‐DCOM) offers an optional three‐week summer Anatomy Boot Camp course (ABC) to facilitate students' transition into medical school and promote retention of anatomy subject matter. The pre‐matriculation program is a supplemental instruction course that utilizes a small group learning format. Boot camp instruction is led by teaching assistants and two anatomy professors. Enrollees gain early exposure to Medical Gross Anatomy (MGA) course subject matter, which is taught in the fall semester, and learn study skills necessary to excel in medical school. No grade is assigned for the course, therefore participants can study without the fear of potentially affecting grades. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the LMU‐DCOM ABC course using data from four consecutive summers. Independent two‐sample t‐tests were used to compare ABC to non‐ABC students for the following variables: incoming grade point average (GPA) and Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) scores, MGA written and laboratory practical examination grades, and final MGA course grade. Additionally, a 26‐question survey was administered to 2012–2014 boot camp participants. There were no significant differences in incoming GPA and MCAT scores. However, boot campers scored significantly higher on the first two lecture and laboratory examinations (P < 0.05) for each year of the study. Thereafter scores varied less, suggesting a faster head start for boot camp participants. Mean MGA final grade was on average 3% higher for the boot camp cohort. The survey feedback supports that the ABC course assists with the academic and social transition into medical school. Anat Sci Educ 10: 215–223. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

Exploring anatomy and physiology using iPad applications

This study examined the use of iPads with anatomy applications (apps) in the laboratory sections of the largest undergraduate course at the university, Anatomy and Physiology, serving more than 300 students. The majority of these students were nursing, exercise science/physical education and biology majors. With a student survey (student opinion) and student practicum grades as metrics, this study determined whether the introduction of this novel mobile technology improved student grades and aided the students in learning the course material. The results indicated that students’ grades improved with the introduction of the iPads, and 78% of the students reported that the iPads facilitated their ability to learn the course material. There was a positive association between frequency of app use and standardized mastery of the course material, as students who used the apps more frequently scored higher and indicated that they felt as though they had learned the material more comprehensively. Owning or having an iPad at home did not have a significant effect on the learning of the material. The general consensus by students was that iPad anatomy apps should be used frequently to better develop student understanding of the course material. Anat Sci Educ 11: 336–345. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

虚拟仿真技术在计算机网络实验教学中的应用

针对高校计算机专业实验教学的现状,在计算机网络实验中引入了虚拟仿真技术,并结合计算机网络课程的实验教学进行实例论证,说明了在计算机网络课程中运用虚拟仿真技术的必要性。     

体验式地质教学虚拟平台建设研究

在分析了体验式教学特征的基础上,将该模式引入到地质教学中,可利用虚拟现实技术和多媒体技术建设体验式地质教学虚拟平台。本文基于"分层化模式"思路,提出了平台体系结构,并介绍了构建网络虚拟教学平台用到的JSP、Oracle10g、Virtools等关键技术。建成后的平台能够将独立的、分散的教学、科研子系统集成起来,为用户提供了多源的教学服务。     

商务网站建站方式比较分析

自助建站、虚拟主机、主机托管等建站方式是目前最主要的网站架设方式,在实际应用中这些建站方式在技术、资金、人才等方面的要求上有很大差别,企业在进行建站方式选择上要充分了解它们的特点.