Designing for Learning in an Open World (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies)

Designing for Learning in an Open World (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies) Review

The Internet and associated technologies have been around for almost twenty years. Networked access and computer ownership are now the norm. There is a plethora of technologies that can be used to support learning, offering different ways in which learners can communicate with each other and their tutors, and providing them with access to interactive, multimedia content. However, these generic skills don’t necessarily translate seamlessly to an academic learning context. Appropriation of these technologies for academic purposes requires specific skills, which means that the way in which we design and support learning opportunities needs to provide appropriate support to harness the potential of technologies. More than ever before learners need supportive ‘learning pathways’ to enable them to blend formal educational offerings, with free resources and services. This requires a rethinking of the design process, to enable teachers to take account of a blended learning context.

The Role of Criticism in Understanding Problem Solving: Honoring the Work of John C. Belland (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies)

The Role of Criticism in Understanding Problem Solving: Honoring the Work of John C. Belland (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies) Review

In 1991, Denis Hlynka and John Belland released Paradigms Regained, a well received reader for graduate students in the field of educational technology. The Role of Criticism in Understanding Problem Solving updates some of those ideas initially proposed in Paradigms Regained, and extends the conversation into the contemporary discourse regarding problem based learning (PBL). Paradigms proposed the idea of criticism as a third method for the conduction of educational research, the first two being qualitative and qualitative. The concept of criticism as a tool for research is not well established in educational technology, although it is well established in other educational research traditions such as Curriculum Studies. Unfortunately, it is not always clear how criticism can be applied. This book views criticism as a way to step back and look at an educational intervention within educational technology through a particular critical lens. Criticism is viewed as a valuable approach to guiding meta analyses and theoretical studies, serving to prevent the proverbial "spinning of the wheels" that often happens in educational research. By indicating new potential research questions and directions, criticism approaches can invigorate educational research. This book revisits the ideals of criticism in order to establish their usefulness for studying educational technology interventions to support problem based learning. First, a few foundational chapters set the stage for the conversations on criticism. Then, the role criticism can play in enhancing analysis and interpretation of the PBL literature is explored. Finally, case studies addressing the central concepts of the text are presented and dissected. This book represents a complete overhaul and rethinking of the use of criticism as a method for understanding and furthering the research area of PBL within the field of Educational technology.

New Perspectives on Affect and Learning Technologies (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies)

New Perspectives on Affect and Learning Technologies (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies) Review

This monograph integrates theoretical perspectives on affect and learning with recent research in affective computing with an emphasis on building new learning technologies. The "new perspectives" come from the intersection of several research themes: -Basic research on emotion, cognition, and motivation applied to learning environments -Pedagogical and motivational strategies that are sensitive to affective and cognitive processes -Multimodal Human Computer Interfaces, with a focus on affect recognition and synthesis -Recent advances in affect-sensitive Intelligent Tutoring Systems -Novel methodologies to investigate affect and learning -Neuroscience research on emotions and learning

Cognitive Load Theory (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies)

Cognitive Load Theory (Explorations in the Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems and Performance Technologies) Review

Over the last 25 years, cognitive load theory has become one of the world’s leading theories of instructional design. It is heavily researched by many educational and psychological researchers and is familiar to most practicing instructional designers, especially designers using computer and related technologies. The theory can be divided into two aspects that closely inter-relate and influence each other: human cognitive architecture and the instructional designs and prescriptions that flow from that architecture. The cognitive architecture is based on biological evolution. The resulting description of human cognitive architecture is novel and accordingly, the instructional designs that flow from the architecture also are novel. All instructional procedures are routinely tested using randomized, controlled experiments. Roughly 1/3 of the book will be devoted to cognitive architecture and its evolutionary base with 2/3 devoted to the instructional implications that follow, including technology-based instruction. Researchers, teachers and instructional designers need the book because of the explosion of interest in cognitive load theory over the last few years. The theory is represented in countless journal articles but a detailed, modern overview presenting the theory and its implications in one location is not available.