Reports the results of a field study evaluation of a virtual role-play environment, "Ghostwriter," which was designed as a preparation activity for writing stories. Examines the effects of "Ghostwriter" has on characterization in children's imaginative writing. Participants were 60 children aged between 10-12 years. Results…

Describes a computer-based concept mapping tool that provides rich representational capabilities, including dynamic imagery (video, animated images, sound) and multiple levels of abstraction. The tool can automatically translate a concept map into an alternative representation-an outline-that contains all of the knowledge contained in a…

Examine students' motivational orientation (intrinsic/extrinsic) during problem-based learning (PBL), comparing it to their orientation during typical class activities. Participants were regular education students who used "Alien Rescue," a computer-based PBL program designed for sixth grade science. Implications of the findings for…

Investigates students' own interpretations of their contribution to computer-mediated discussions. Subjects were 20 students between the ages of 15 and 16, who participated in computer supported collaborative learning inquiry in literature. Results show how individual students interpret their contribution to the collaborative knowledge…

Explores the different forms and potential applications of computer mediated communication (CMC) for Web-based and Web-enhanced courses. Based on their experiences with three different Web courses (Research Methods in Psychology, Statistical Methods in Psychology, and Basic Learning Processes) taught repeatedly over the last five years, the…

Explores social constructivist theory; investigates successful collaboration; discusses characteristics of communication in an electronic setting, arriving at solutions for improving the use and effectiveness of computer mediated communication environments. Strategies suggested are: structuring interaction with authentic tasks, questioning…

Examines online discussions using lexical scoring techniques. Suggests that online conversations become more sophisticated as learners interact with each other over the duration of a course, that collaboration among learners fosters the social construction of knowledge and that evidence of such knowledge-building activities is embodied in the tone…

Presents an authoring model and a system for curriculum development in intelligent tutoring systems. Explains CREAM (Curriculum Representation and Acquisition Model) which allows for the creation and organization of the curriculum according to three models concerning the domain, the pedagogy, and the didactic aspects. (Author/LRW)

Discusses learner-centered active assessment, or interactive assessment, and applies it to an instructional design course that used WebCT (a Web-based authoring/management tool) to support a face-to-face classroom setting. Highlights include a definition of classroom assessment; and results of pretests and posttests, class surveys, and course…

Describes the use of computer-mediated communication to develop a cooperative learning community among students in a Web-based distance education unit for practicing science and mathematics educators in Australia and Pacific Rim countries. Discusses use of the social constructivist and constructionist conceptions of teaching and learning.…

Discussion of intelligent agents and their use in computer learning environments focuses on cognitive considerations. Presents four dimension of control that should be considered in designing agent-based learning environments: learner control, from constructivist to instructivist; feedback; relationship of learner to agent; and learner confidence…

Discussion of collaborative learning techniques focuses on an empirical study that explored the impact on nontraditional higher education students of using asynchronous conferencing technology to complete collaborative teamwork. Highlights include gender differences; differences between face-to-face and asynchronous collaboration; and…

Presents a historical overview of ideas related to distributed cognition. Highlights include distributed cognition in cognitive science and in educational psychology; the influence of cultural-historical psychology; and implications for educational practice, including curriculum revision, social dimensions, and learning processes. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of distributed cognition and school reform focuses on the teaching and learning practices of a Native American group, the Mexican Mazahuas. Topics include knowledge construction; a shared knowledge model of learning; interconnectedness between knowledge and practice; models of guidance; cognitive apprenticeship models; shared…

Explores two ways of conceptualizing teaching and learning to think using transcripts of classroom talk taken from two empirical studies of elementary school students, one demonstrating distributed cognition and one teaching distributed cognition. Discusses transfer of words and rules; internalization; and implication and subjectivity. (Author/LRW)