Selections of papers from the seventeenth annual conference of the Australian Science Education Research Association are presented in this volume of Research in Science Education (RISE). A diversity of themes are addressed and include new topic areas as well as concerns that have been cited in previous issues of RISE. The papers focus on such…

This paper discusses the overall design of the PIXIE Intelligent Tutoring System, and more specifically a series of recent enhancements. The original system has been implemented to involve three separate phases: the offline, or model generation phase; the online, or tutoring, phase; and the analysis phase. The offline phase, which is completed…

Three challenges that face distance educators at the national, institute, and individual subject level in Australia are discussed in a set of Occasional Papers by the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education (RMIHE). Australia is undergoing a period of major change. The binary system of universities and colleges of advanced education is…

This book which treats the central issues facing mathematics teaching today, provides both a picture of current practice and innovation and a state of the art review of research in mathematics education. The first section, "Innovations," provides an overview of new technologies, new forms of assessment, and new curriculum developments.…

This annotated bibliography includes 257 references to current issues in Japanese education contained in books, magazines, and Japanese periodicals. Among the topics included are bullying among juvenile delinquents, student exchange programs, Japanese educational problems, post-educational employment problems, school computer use, and juvenile…

Reports on a research study which investigated the nature of preschool children's choices concerning computer-based learning activities. Notes that the results failed to show evidence of calculated goal setting or progression from easier to more difficult learning tasks. Discusses implications for software development. (RKM)

Describes an evaluation program which is aimed at providing well-designed, comprehensive, and objective tests to a specific category of engineering students. Involves the use of a computerized statistical analysis. Provides recommendations for organizing such an activity. (TW)

Describes the goals and results of the Informatics Stimulation Plan (INSP). Reviews inservice programs and school programs in vocational higher education, primary and special education and secondary education in the Netherlands. Suggests priorities for new policies of the Ministry of Education. (CW)

Considers computer-based technology as a change agent for methodological emphasis in the use of language learning applications; examines the issues of language learning methodology, the relationship of methodology and computer-based technology, and changes in institutional learning environments; and highlights some of the computer-aided language…

In this paper we report on two complementary research results. In the first we describe a tool that allows different modes of synchronous distance teaching of mathematics. In the second we report the preliminary results of a pilot study conducted using this tool to teach geometry, both with school students aged 14-15 and with undergraduate…

In our paper we describe an intervention aimed at providing increased chances of success in the study of Computer Science (CS) to members of South Africa's historically disadvantaged communities. Research has shown that many African students perform poorly in CS, possibly because of language problems. We have developed a web-based application that…

Weblogs, or blogs for short, were created as a tool for people to create online journals without the need of any programming experience or knowledge. Although not originally intended for educational purposes, blogs are drawing attention from EFL educators. The paper is intended to provide a definition of a blog, to analyze the features of a blog,…

This action research study developed, explored, and analyzed the use of digital portfolios as a multiperspective ecological assessment method in primary education learning environments in Finland. Participating in the study were kindergarten and primary school teachers who were challenged and encouraged to utilize networking and digital portfolios…

This book contains 44 chapters and an appendix of pictures for teachers to use with Arab learners in Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) classrooms. Each lesson describes goals, materials needed, and the activity. Many lessons offer sample worksheets, answers to anticipated problems, alternative uses, and suggestions for optimal utilization. With…

As the World Wide Web becomes part of mainstream learning and teaching at Australian universities, changes to online learning include a proliferation in the use of commercial learning environments and in the movement of institutional processes online. These changes indicate that now is an appropriate time to plan for the future. The University of…