Learning analytics (LA) provides tools to analyze historical data with the goal of better understanding how curricular structures and features have impacted student learning. Forward-looking curriculum design, however, frequently involves a degree of uncertainty. Historical data may be unavailable, a contemplated modification to curriculum may be…

In this article, we introduce a new virtual application that offers an interactive model of the brain for neuroanatomy education. Through a dual-platform architecture, the application can be downloaded on both desktop and mobile devices, with the mobile app leveraging unique capacities of modern handheld systems to deploy the brain model in…

At first glance, scientific laboratory experiences might appear to be challenging to move to the cloud. Skeptics may point to sensory feedback limitations and inequivalence of student outcomes. However, emerging data increasingly provide evidence that scientific laboratory courses are not only amenable to online learning, but also can deliver…

This paper describes the design of a new practical class in pharmaceutical chemistry, which creatively guides the students through the subject area of physical and analytical sciences with the help of a 'virtual client'. The design focuses on the active integration of knowledge and professional skills in an area which has been seen to be typically…

The paper discusses the use of "Productive Disciplinary Engagement" (PDE) for a curricular project that features a technology-based alternate reality game (ARG) with the objective of teaching undergraduate students about the collaborative nature of STEM careers. Much of the PDE research uses PDE as either a design-principle or as an…

This article describes the redesign of a project-based course on soft and biological materials to include computational modeling. Including the construction of computational models in the course is described as a shift from constructivism--a theory that characterizes the development of formal reasoning, to constructionism--a theory that focuses on…

Educational technology has exploded at a rapid pace, requiring educational institutions to select the most innovative techniques and platforms to complement instruction. Incorporating the latest technologies such as Open Educational Resources (OER) and Virtual Reality (VR) into curricula have proven to be beneficial in the areas of active…

Increasing project complexity and a high level of specialization in the language industry have resulted in a demand for translation professionals with sophisticated technical skills. This has made computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools indispensable for translators in order to meet project requirements. With a rapidly changing industry…

Opening with the history, recent advances, and emerging ways to use avatar-based virtual reality, an instructor who has used virtual environments since 2007 shares how these environments bring more options to community building, teaching, and education. With the open-source movement, where the source code for virtual environments was made…

Schools and teachers are looking for innovative ways to teach the "big ideas" emerging in the core curricula, especially in STEAM fields (science technology, engineering, arts and math). As a result, learning environments that support digital learning and educational technology on various platforms and devices are taking on…

This paper presents some of the overall frameworks and models for language learning that were used under Avalon (Access to Virtual and Action Learning live ONline), an EU co-funded project aimed at developing language-learning scenarios in virtual worlds. The introduction and background summarize some of the theories that constitute the starting…

The context of Information Communication Technology (ICT) is changing dramatically. Today, Web 2.0 applications such as Facebook and MySpace are used ubiquitously in the general population, and Virtual Worlds are becoming increasingly popular in business, for example via simulations in Second Life. However the capacity of Virtual Worlds is…

Describes general curriculum design principles and specific software design implementations resulting from an ongoing collaboration between software designers and programmers, researchers, and a classroom teacher and his students. Traces the development of E-Lab software in the context of the principles that emerged during the design process.…

Teaching is a moral and educational enterprise. Therefore, teachers are expected to explain and justify the instructional methods and designs they use in their teaching to demonstrate how they meet the moral and educational ends of the teaching enterprise. To justify the use of particular instructional methods and designs goes beyond giving a…

States there is little direct evidence that the current laboratory instructional method is an important component of chemistry instruction. Provides a historical account of laboratory work. Studies individual work versus demonstrations, and computer simulations. Urges the use of computer based methods to provide a rich laboratory experience. (MVL)