The spoken language occurring when primary school children work in groups at the computer was examined. Findings suggest that discourse accompanying highly structured software conforms well to the initiation/response/follow-up (IRF) structure, with the computer often taking the initiating role. The more open-ended the program, the more…

Describes a pilot project incorporating extensive use of computers in mathematics instruction. Test scores and homework from this group were compared with a group that did not use computers. Results were inconclusive and only revealed a shortage of appropriate instructional software. (MJP)

Discusses the eight learner attributes of immersion, reflection, play and flow, collaboration, learner control, curiosity, fantasy, and challenge, which were identified as being important in bringing about motivation and engagement in adult learners. Describes the interactive multimedia learning environment, "Principles of Financial Investment,"…

This paper presents ongoing research at the University of Hertfordshire on the use of computer-adaptive tests (CATs) in Higher Education. A software prototype based on Item Response Theory has been developed and is described here. This application was designed to estimate the level of proficiency in English for those students whose first language…

Thinking Together is a project that began at the Open University in the mid 1990s and grew out of research that showed that children benefit from explicit instruction on how to talk in groups. Its fundamental premise is that the ability to communicate effectively is a key skill that lies at the heart of educational success. A crucial goal arising…

In recent years, the information and communication technology (ICT) has created a significant impact on the methods of communicating information and knowledge to the learners and, consequently, innovative teaching techniques have evolved to change the way teachers teach and students learn. In this paper, the focus is on a study which was conducted…

While it has become common to employ pronunciation oriented software to improve one's pronunciation in L2, both language teachers and L2 learners feel uncertain about choosing software to meet their purposes. Taking "MyET", pronunciation oriented software written and highly praised in Taiwan, as a representative program, this study…

The developments of new technologies over the last decades provide some answers to the limited exposure imposed on second/foreign language (L2) learners, who study a target language in an academic setting in countries where that language is not actively used. Not only are such learners restricted in their exposure to the L2 in the formal academic…

This paper reports recent work in developing of structures and processes that support university teachers and instructional designers incorporating learning objects into higher education focused learning designs. The aim of the project is to develop a framework to guide the design and implementation of high quality learning experiences. This…

This paper describes an evaluation of a web-based consultation space (a dynamic frequently asked questions environment--DFAQ) in which learners consult one another using questions, and in which both the flow of interaction and its artefacts become a resource available to a community of learners. The DFAQ is a special form of a…

Learning Objects Metadata (LOM) aims at describing educational resources in order to allow better reusability and retrieval. In this article we show how additional inference rules allows us to derive additional metadata from existing ones. Additionally, using these rules as integrity constraints helps us to define the constraints on LOM elements,…

This paper describes research into the beliefs and practices established over time by teachers, who had been engaged in an innovative "mathematical investigations" school program, based on the use of exploratory software. The theoretical framework perceives the teacher as an active mediator of innovation, constructing and reorganizing a…

This article describes a study of children's electronic books (e-books) technology. In particular, the focus is on devices used to access children's e-books, current available e-books and an e-book builder specifically for children. Three small case studies were conducted: two to evaluate how children accept the devices and one to test the ease of…

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has tremendous potential for being a tool that can connect students to post school opportunities not yet known. The technology is robust and well developed, used by many workplaces and integral in a nation's future well-being and defence. However, despite many isolated attempts by teachers to incorporate GIS…

The objective of this paper is to introduce a standards-based model for adaptive e-learning and to investigate the conditions and tools required by authors to implement this model. Adaptation in the context of e-learning is about creating a learner experience that purposely adjusts to various conditions over a period of time with the intention of…