Background: Pedagogical agents are computerized talking heads or embodied animated avatars that help students learn by performing actions and holding conversations with the students in natural language. Dialogues occur between a tutor agent and the student in the case of AutoTutor and other intelligent tutoring systems with natural language…

The National Science Foundation-sponsored report "Fostering Learning in the Networked World" called for "a common, open platform to support communities of developers and learners in ways that enable both to take advantage of advances in the learning sciences." We review research on science inquiry learning environments (ILEs)…

Online learning environments offer new opportunities for learning and over the last decade or so a variety of online learning environments have been developed by researchers to facilitate collaborative learning among students. In this paper we will present a case study of a successful collaborative learning design. This involves a near synchronous…

This paper reports on a design study conducted within the Egyptian context of pre-service EFL teacher education, which implemented a Community of Practice (CoP) design facilitated by Facebook, to integrate some new forms of online writing. Based on some preliminary empirical results triangulated with literature review, a preliminary design…

This article presents key steps in the design and analysis of a computer based problem-solving assessment featuring interactive tasks. The purpose of the assessment is to support targeted instruction for students by diagnosing strengths and weaknesses at different stages of problem-solving. The first focus of this article is the task piloting…

Course management systems (CMSs) are software systems designed to manage course content and course activities. These tools integrate technological and pedagogical features into a web-based system that allows instructors, even those who are unfamiliar with web-based technologies, to design, deliver, and manage an online course. However, CMSs have…

"Instructional design" technology focuses on the learning process and student achievement rather than on the teaching process and student control. Adoption of this technology permits the effective use of computer-managed instruction as a learning tool. Teachers must learn to use both the technology and the tool to improve instruction. (PGD)

Theoretical and research literature on learner, program, and adaptive control as forms of instructional management are critiqued in reference to the design of computer-based instruction. An adaptive control strategy using an online, iterative algorithmic model is proposed. (RAO)

Mixed or hybrid method has become an increasingly popular course delivery model in recent years, but research regarding the effect of mixed learning is limited because of its recent debut in the landscape of educational technology. This one-year exploratory study looked at 78 elementary teacher candidates' view of learning in four mixed courses…

This paper considers some of the problems in implementing a cost-effectiveness analysis in training and education, and provides a specific example of an analysis that partially meets the cost-effectiveness analysis requirements. A computer-based study management system (SMS), which was implemented on a limited basis, was evaluated in the context…

This paper describes the multiple evaluation techniques which can be applied to one computer-based instructional system and the ways in which the data may be used. The Navy's Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) System is used as an example to illustrate the application of various evaluation strategies for solving problems associated with delivery…

This paper describes the Computer Based Learning Lab (CBLL) at Old Dominion University (ODU) as a component of the ODU-Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education (CAUSE) Project. Emphasis is directed to the structure and management of the facility and to the software under development by the staff. Serving the ODU-CAUSE User Group…

This study tested the hypothesis that high school students can effectively manage their learning needs in a computer-assisted instructional system when provided on-task advisement of their learning achievement in relation to a given criterion. One hundred and thirty-nine male and female high school students from a 12th grade course in psychology…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of instructional support delivered at job sites under the direction and control of a centralized Computer Managed Instruction (CMI) system. The project has five phases: a feasibility study; a demonstration design; the demonstration preparation; the demonstration; and the evaluation…

Presents several steps for developing computer based learning materials, and shows that they can be less expensive to design and implement than those that are developed using other media. (MER)