Engineering design activities offer the promise of enhanced learning and teaching in pre-college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) settings. The wide variation and lack of coherence in research and practice concerning pre-college engineering design challenges necessitates an investigation of the literature. The overarching…

Social media are increasingly being used for educational purposes. The first part of this article briefly reviews literature that reports on educational applications of social media tools. The second part discusses theories that may provide a basis for analyzing the processes that are relevant for individual learning and collective knowledge…

This paper examines how visual information strategies may be used to facilitate the development of mental models. Topics covered include: definition of mental models; mental models and visual information; mental modeling concepts; power of modeling, including examples related to physical science, mathematics, writing, and depth of processing;…

This discussion of authoring systems focuses on modes of computer-assisted learning delivery and criteria for their selection. Topics discussed include industry's use of authoring systems, a systems approach to designing courseware, media selection, learning strategies, instructional events that comprise learning situations, and cognitive…

This article uses system thinking to examine the dynamic complexity of perfectionism. These dynamics are explained as an attempt by the perfectionist to achieve cognitive consistency. The unrealistic worldview of a perfectionist generates a catch-22 situation that makes change difficult. Fundamental change requires a worldview that balances…

Discusses two ways in which task analysis can be integrated with instructional design--substantive integration, where the type of task analysis is determined by design type, and temporal integration, where analysis activities are interspersed with design activities. Flowcharts, examples of and procedures for instructional analysis, and references…

This article provides a brief introduction to learning organization and systems thinking. It contains three experiential learning activities designed to teach systems thinking concepts. The first activity, "Pellets," helps learners discover the advantages of applying systems thinking to the solutions of workplace problems. The next two…

Research that identifies factors that facilitate information processing and enhance performance without reducing group confidence and decision satisfaction may influence future development of groupwork systems. This paper contains a review of the literature on cognitive and motivational issues in both group decision-making and learning contexts…

This book reviews issues concerning attention deficit disorders (ADDs) in the context of a systems perspective. ADDs are viewed as resulting from dynamic interactions of behavior, cognition, and affect, out of which emerge distinct and idiosyncratic ways of coping. Chapter 1 looks at the interaction of attention and behavior. In chapter 2, the…

Suggests the need for detailed study of (1) behavior-environment interactions and (2) interdependencies within behavioral repertoires. Examines systems theory as a paradigm for both interpreting dynamic interrelationships and examining the complexities of learning and adaption. Argues for noninterventive studies of individual children's…