This paper puts forward a new design perspective for game-based learning. The general idea is to abandon the long sought-after dream of designing a closed learning system, where students in both primary and secondary school could learn--without the interference of teachers--whatever subject they wanted while sitting in front of a computer. This…

This paper provides a theoretical framework for "reflection amplifiers" that are used in online courses. Such reflection amplifiers are intervention techniques that aim at provoking reflective practices in learning, in order to enhance the quality and effectiveness of learning and promote meta-cognition. A literature survey identified a sample of…

Adaptive learning and teaching strategies are increasingly demanded in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the education process, but few intelligent education systems exist, which are dynamic and able to satisfy individual students' requirements. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, we have developed a multi-agent…

Describes the development of a task-based framework for providing learning within the workplace using networked multimedia. Builds on the recognition that tasks must reflect the social process of learning as considered by Vygotsky and takes into account the role of dialogue in the building of knowledge for an individual and for a group.…

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)

Considers features of a postmodern classroom conceived as a complex, socially distributed cognitive system that exemplifies distributed cognition. Presents a case study based on a documentary film, "The Dig", that describes a middle school class's archaeological dig that shows instructional innovations that liberate the learning process.…

Discusses the use of electronic mail in classrooms and describes "Boardwalk," a messaging system that supports the creation and posting of media-rich messages and graphic displays of the messages. Topics include collaborative inquiry-learning, technology to support collaborative inquiry, visual representations for dialog, and structuring…

Describes an open distributed multi-agent tutoring system (MATS) and discusses issues related to learning in such open environments. Topics include modeling a one student-many teachers approach in a computer-based learning context; distributed artificial intelligence; implementation issues; collaboration; and user interaction. (Author/LRW)

Examines individual learning differences and adaptive learning in interactive World Wide Web learning environments, highlighting the dominant influence of emotions and intentions and their impact on learning. Explains learning orientations and the System for Intentional Learning and Performance Assessment (SILPA), an interactive Web learning…

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)

Examines the "media effects" debate-whether media in and of itself affects learning-and presents an analysis of various arguments from a learning theory perspective. Proposes a dynamic process of instructional design where assessments are aimed at instructional practices as well as learning outcomes, and instructional media and method…

Reviews the foundational principles of situated cognition and substantiates its theoretical underpinnings with a transactional worldview; draws connections between situated cognition and problem-based learning; and draws implications from situated cognition and problem-based learning to learning and instruction with technology. Suggests that…

Proposes the use of hypermedia to provide components of an apprenticeship learning model for students in which process and conceptual knowledge learning is integrated. Describes a model called Apprenticeship Based Learning Environment (ABLE) and discusses software design and scaffolding, an example of an ABLE. Contains 80 references. (Author/LRW)

Discusses authenticity as it is applied to educational interventions and argues that the concept should be analyzed more closely. Describes four kinds of authenticity; analyzes how computational media are well-suited to support different aspects of authentic learning; and discusses connectivity, modeling, and pluralism. Contains 75 references.…

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…