Carefully engineered playable games can serve as vehicles for students and practitioners to learn and explore the programming of advanced computer architectures to execute applications, such as high performance computing (HPC) and complex, inter-networked, distributed systems. The article presents families of playable games that are grounded in…

The availability and use of computers in teaching has seen an increase in the rate of plagiarism among students because of the wide availability of electronic texts online. While computer tools that have appeared in recent years are capable of detecting simple forms of plagiarism, such as copy-paste, a number of recent research studies devoted to…

Conflicts occur when learners interact with pedagogical agents and virtual characters. Such conflicts--arising from technological limitations, psychosocial perceptions, and pedagogical inadequacies--hinder communication and interaction between virtual characters and learners, and impede successful engagement with learning tasks and experiences. To…

Reviews research describing computer functions of construction-oriented computer environments and evaluates their contributions to students' learning of geometry. Topics discussed include constructing geometric concepts; the use of LOGO in elementary school mathematics; software that focuses on geometric construction; and implications for the…

Describes how the structure of hypermedia systems can be represented by a simple matrix which is the basis for applying standard techniques of network analysis, and demonstrates the potential influence of these techniques on learning processes or outcomes. Also discusses theoretical and practical implications for future hypermedia research. (AEF)

Outlines conditions that should be present in an electronic tutoring system, and describes the Electronic Homework system. Discusses the modules contained in the system's two main components--the Computer Tutor and Homework Administrator. Gives an example of the tutoring process, and examines the overall effects of using Electronic Homework. (AEF)

Describes the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of three synchronous distributed learning prototype systems: Co-Working System, Working Along System, and Hybrid System. Each supports a particular style of interaction, referred to a socio-activity learning model, between members of student dyads (pairs). All systems were…

Describes research conducted with students in grades three, four, and five to determine if providing teachers with a wider variety of computer-based resources to integrate with instructional activities would have a positive effect on student achievement and attitudes. Explains the use of two variations of Integrated Learning System software.…

Describes the design of the Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environment (CSILE), a database that allows the storage and retrieval of information in several media, e.g., text and drawings. Research on cognitive abilities and learning strategies is reviewed, learner control is discussed, and the implementation of CSILE in grades five and six…

Describes four Web-based agents developed for reengineering a freshman chemistry laboratory education: the "intelligent tutoring tool" that conducts online problem-solving coaching; "the adaptive lecture guide" that provides navigation guidance sensitive to students' knowledge status; the "student modeler" that assesses students' knowledge…