Intelligent tutoring systems are adaptive learning environments designed to support individualized instruction. The adaptation embedded within these systems is often guided by user models that represent one or more aspects of students' domain knowledge, actions, or performance. The proposed project focuses on the development and testing of user…

Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) are often used to support learning in formal and informal educational contexts. A technology-based educational experience consists of several elements: content, syllabus, roles, sequence of activities, assignments, assessment procedures, etc. that must be aligned with the affordances of the technologies to…

Exposing American K-12 students to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) content is a national initiative. Game Design Through Mentoring and Collaboration targets students from underserved communities and uses their interest in video games as a way to introduce science, technology, engineering, and math topics. This article describes a…

This article details the construction and content of the Garden Grove (CA) High School Web site. The site wins the January 2009 "Tech Directions" Web Site of the Month. It provides information on the school's academic programs, administrative and teaching staff, guidance department, and athletics and other extracurricular activities, in addition…

Educators at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) in Mesa, Arizona, are always looking to industry leaders for guidance on how to educate and prepare students for new, emerging careers. But sometimes, it's not a matter of a new industry emerging, but rather several previous occupations merging to form new opportunities for students and…

Early exposure to embedded computing systems is crucial for students to be prepared for the embedded computing demands of today's world. However, exposure to systems knowledge often comes too late in the curriculum to stimulate students' interests and to provide a meaningful difference in how they direct their choice of electives for future…

This paper presents a simple 4 bit computer processor design that may be built using TTL chips for less than $65. In addition to describing the processor itself in detail, we discuss our experience using the laboratory kit and its associated machine instruction set to teach computer architecture to high school students. (Contains 3 figures and 5…

Many Web sites include a "kids page" or similar domain. Frequently, these domains combine content and applications for an unreasonably wide range of youth, sometimes lumping together everything from K-12. Usability testing confirms common sense; this one-room school house approach to Web site design results in a compromise that…

Factor-Q is a problem-solving computer assisted instruction system for teaching polynomials in grades 9-12 that addresses the limitations of most problem-solving programs, among others, the user interface. The system is designed to help students master the skills of factorizing polynomials. It demonstrates the ease with which inadequately trained…

This paper describes a Personal Intelligent Mentor (PIM) that facilitates metacognitive development in the domain of solving logic word puzzles. Metacognition is an important aspect for critical thinking skills. High school students must develop logical and critical thinking abilities as a prerequisite for higher-level math and computer…