This book focuses on the use of technology-mediated interaction in distance education and open learning. Special emphasis is placed on models for collaborative dialogues in general and learning dialogues in particular, at a distance, through a computer network. The technology is thus used as a medium for conducting conversations and dialogues, allowing the co-construction of new knowledge and understanding among groups of learners and tutors, who might otherwise have little opportunity to interact with each other. The book has three main aspects: it gives an overview of the state of the art; it integrates the viewpoints of educationalists, users, and scientists; and it offers a balance between fundamental research and applications. It is part of the NATO Special Programme on Advanced Educational Technology…. More >>

Collaborative Dialogue Technologies in Distance Learning

Dialogic Education and Technology is about using new technology to draw people into the kind of dialogues which take them beyond themselves into learning, thinking and creativity. The program of research reported in this book reveals key characteristics of learning dialogues and demonstrates ways in which computers and networks can deepen, enrich and expand such dialogues. A dialogic perspective is developed drawing upon recent work in communications theory, psychology, computer science and philosophy. This perspective foregrounds the creative space opened up by authentic dialogues. Whereas studies of computer-supported collaborative learning have tended to see dialogue as a means to the end of knowledge construction the dialogic perspective taken by this book sees dialogue as an end in itself – in fact moving learners into the space of dialogue is described as the core aim of education. The central argument of the book is that there is a convergence between this dialogic perspective i… More >>

Dialogic Education and Technology: Expanding the Space of Learning

This book relates “new” information and communication technologies (ICT) to their specific teaching and learning functions, in particular how ICT is appropriated for and/or by educational or learning communities. We categorize consumer-oriented educational multimedia as established technologies, not of primary importance for innovative approaches to collaborative learning. Internet connections in schools and academic institutions are no longer new, though the learning culture originating from this technology may still lack a sufficiently rich definition. The technological “hot spots” of interest in this book are in turn: groupware or multi-user technologies such as group archives or synchronous co-construction environments, embedded interactive technologies in the spirit of ubiquitous computing, and modeling tools based on rich representations. Important features of these new technologies are: the move from individually oriented software tools to multi-user tools providing group aware… More >>

The Role of Technology in CSCL: Studies in Technology Enhanced Collaborative Learning

This important resource offers an understanding of the basic principles that underlie training methods and the use of technology training in the workplace. The authors provide a primer for the four pervading and more advanced technologies used in business training¾the Internet, computer-based training, knowledge management systems, and decision support tools. Appropriate for those who have little or no formal training in educational technology, this book addresses such topics as the decision to use, the pros and cons for using, and presentation strategies for media as varied as the Internet, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, satellite distance learning, and electronic performance support systems…. More >>

The Handbook of Training Technologies : An Introductory Guide to Facilitating Learning with Technology — from Planning Through Evaluation

This book deals with how technology can enhance learning. It is a collection of contemporary practices and developmental trends for enhancing learning through technology. Researchers in the field of electronic learning (e-learning) share how new technologies can be applied in and out of the classroom, and how contemporary pedagogical practices should be deployed. This book presents the most updated technologies that work hand in hand with current pedagogies to help students learn. The contributors are prominent researchers and practitioners in the field. This book attempts to report all emerging models, techniques, and applications related to learning through technology. Contents: Enhancing Learning Through Innovative Technology: Challenges and Responses (L Webster & D Murphy); Development of an E-Learning System for Automation Technology Education (M Jou); Using YouTube: Strategies for Using New Media in Teaching and Learning (P Duffy); Enhancing Learning Through Innovat… More >>

Enhancing Learning Through Technology: Research on Emerging Technologies and Pedagogies

This Handbook presents the latest thinking and current examples of design research in education. Design-based research involves introducing innovations into real-world practices (as opposed to constrained laboratory contexts) and examining the impact of those designs on the learning process. Designed prototype applications (e.g., instructional methods, software or materials) and the research findings are then cycled back into the next iteration of the design innovation in order to build evidence of the particular theories being researched, and to positively impact practice and the diffusion of the innovation. The Handbook of Design Research Methods in Education– the defining book for the field — fills a need in how to conduct design research by those doing so right now. The chapters represent a broad array of interpretations and examples of how today’s design researchers conceptualize this emergent methodology across areas as diverse as educational leadership, diffusion of inno… More >>

Handbook of Design Research Methods in Education: Innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Learning and Teaching

Within the sphere of children’s learning and play, the concept of robot and the application of actual robots are undergoing a dramatic expansion. Here the term “robot” refers to a growing range of interactive devices-including toys, pets, assistants to the disabled, and overtly educational tools-which are being used in ways that are expected to have profound and beneficial effects on how our children develop and grow.
Robots for Kids: Exploring New Technologies for Learning opens with contributions from leading designers and researchers, each offering a unique perspective into the challenge of developing robots specifically for children. The second part is devoted to the stories of educators who work with children using these devices, exploring new applications and mapping their impact. Throughout the book, essays by children are included that discuss their first-hand experiences and ideas about robots. This is an engaging, entertaining, and insightful book for a broad audience,… More >>

Robots for Kids: Exploring New Technologies for Learning

The requirement to accurately measure the impact of educational technology has become more critical then ever before as a result of the economic commitment to educational technology, the pressure for greater accountability as well as the rapid rate of technological change. This study investigated the STAR-W program, which facilitated computer assisted instruction, to determine the grant¿s impact on the Language Arts Literacy portion of statewide assessment. Prior to this investigation, the usefulness of the STAR-W grant, in terms of achievement test scores, was essentially unknown. There was a need to examine the connections between educational technology and student academic achievement to maximize the STAR-W resources. The findings generated from this study have broadened the understanding of those connections as well as contributed to the ever-growing body of knowledge concerning the integration of computer-assisted instruction into 21st Century educational curr… More >>

The Impact of Computer Technology on Language Arts Literacy Scores: A Step by Step Guide for Examining the Effectiveness of Computer Learning On Achievement Tests Scores

Distance education today offers more than teaching and learning online. The growing sophistication and flexibility of synchronous technologies, plus continuing advances and familiarity with their uses, has opened up new opportunities for engaging students and relating with them in a myriad of ways. Honed through years of experience and grounded in distance education research, the tips selected for this book are placed in the respected framework of the instructional design process: pre-planning, planning, developing, implementing, evaluating. You will find here a quick tip that can inspire you as you plan a new course. You will also find ideas that can inform and expand your usage of the exciting options available. Of special interest is the Companion Web site designed to offer depth, additional materials, and a practitioner blog. With the web site, the book, and the blog, the reader has the opportunity to work with print and electronic media to create an innovative plan. The C… More >>

147 Practical Tips for Synchronous and Blended Technology Teaching and Learning

Not pie in the sky, or what should be, this book is based on over 100 interviews of people in Fortune 500 companies who are actually doing web-based training. This book is written for instructional designers, adult educators, training managers, human resource managers, and workplace educators who are developing their first web-based training program. The primary focus of the book is the design of programs for delivering training on the web while applying principles of adult education. The CD-ROM contains five different resources, some of which are in addition to the book: worksheets, document and presentation templates, job-aids, and links to the WWW. The book features 24 self-study exercises to help readers reflect on what they are learning…. More >>

Web-Based Training: Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences