The study summarized in this paper explored policies for improving open online content development projects with respect to growing the development community and improving the quantity and quality of materials developed. The study made use of dynamic feedback simulation and interviews with the members of an established content development…

Presented is a simulation program for Apple II computer which assays the effects of a series of variables on bacterial growth and interactions between microbial populations. Results of evaluation of the program with students are summarized. (CW)

Developed computer-based rehabilitation caseload management simulation and administered simulation to 18 rehabilitation students and 18 rehabilitation counselors. Performance was evaluated using six caseload management performance indicators. Performance indicators, derived from computer simulation, were found to be effective in differentiating…

Describes two computer-assisted instructional programs (I-View Skills and Goal-Focused Interviewing) and two interactive videodisk (IVD) programs (Crisis Counseling and Group Treatment) designed to teach social work practice skills in introductory interpersonal practice course. Presents programs to encourage other social work faculty and agency…

Conceptual change is a popular, contemporary conception of meaningful learning. Conceptual change describes changes in conceptual frameworks (mental models or personal theories) that learners construct to comprehend phenomena. Different theories of conceptual change describe the reorganization of conceptual frameworks that results from different…

Reports a case study of thirteen college students engaging in a role-play activity of a Maui legend in a virtual reality environment. Immersed in the authentic cultural environment, the students not only interacted with the environment and each other, but recreated the legend based on their interpretation of the culture. (CAK)

Creating a forum for conflict management students to conceptualize and implement collaborative negotiation techniques can be difficult to manage during classroom time. A computer-based simulation assigned in conjunction with in-class activities offers three distinct advantages for students who are beginning negotiators: (1) classroom time may be…

All teacher education programs require teacher candidates to have in-school practicum experiences. Placing student teachers in schools is not always easy, however, and it is getting harder. According to the field experience office at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, it is getting more difficult to find schools where the teacher candidates can…

This article presents the results of a three-year study of "Gamestar Mechanic" (www.gamestarmechanic.com), a flash-based multiplayer online role-playing game developed for the MacArthur Foundation's digital media learning initiative by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Gamelab in New York. The game's objective is to help children…

Background: Many of the potential benefits of using virtual worlds for teaching and learning are difficult to define and often become overly focused on the functionality of the technology or on its ability to support informal or "social" forms of learning. Purpose: The aim of the paper is to highlight the experiential nature of virtual…

The need for effective teachers is growing while national and state standards are putting ever-increasing demands on teachers and raising expectations for student achievement. Low science and mathematics standardized test scores, particularly in the middle grades, reflect unprepared adolescents, perhaps because of ineffective teaching strategies…

This study is aimed at presenting a critical overview of recent research studies on the use of educational online games as collaborative learning environments in Tertiary Education (TE), namely higher education and vocational training, with a view to identifying: a) the elements that online games should include in order to support fruitful and…

Because of perceived advantages, simulations are increasingly being used for performance-based training. This is a review of computer simulation as a learning tool, and its application within the context of disaster preparedness. Concepts from established learning theory are examined and research verifiable by empirical data is referenced. To…

This article describes how researchers work with military to create the next generation of training technology. This article also describes the features of Flatworld, a virtual military training technology. Flatworld is one of many projects under development at the Institute for Creative Technologies, a research group that is supported primarily…

Recent advancements in the development of hardware/software configurations for delivering virtual reality (VR) environments to individuals with disabilities have included approaches for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This article describes a study comparing benefits of using VR to benefits of an integrated/visual treatment model…