This study explores how faculty members select and use the educational materials employed in their courses. The primary sample represents all teaching faculty across all types of degree-granting higher education institution in the United States. Two subgroups of faculty are called out for detailed examination: those teaching large-enrollment…

Promises of "teacher-light" tuition and of enhanced "efficiency" via the automation of teaching have been with us since the early days of digital education, sometimes embraced by academics and institutions, and sometimes resisted as a set of moves which are damaging to teacher professionalism and to the humanistic values of…

As in many universities, class sizes have increased more quickly than teaching and learning resources. A related challenge is the increasing diversity of the student body in terms of socio-economic background, learning styles, English language ability and preparedness. This paper explores ways in which traditional face-to-face teaching methods…

This volume represents the first collection of empirical studies focusing on peer interaction for L2 learning. These studies aim to unveil the impact of mediating variables such as task type, mode of interaction, and social relationships on learners' interactional behaviors and language development in this unique and pedagogically powerful…

Describes the development and use of electronic classrooms at the University of Maryland College Park. Highlights include active individual learning; small group collaborative learning; class collaborative learning; classroom infrastructure; audio-visual support; courseware; empirical assessments; results of faculty surveys; and student feedback.…

This paper gives an account of a pedagogical project using the computer in teaching an electrical engineering subject. The aim was to combine the computer with other activities, as one element in an active educational process. This has led to a small group instructional approach where the computer is used in various ways in courses on different…

The 23rd EUROCALL conference was held in Cyprus from the 24th to the 27th of August 2016. The theme of the conference this year was "CALL Communities and Culture." It offered a unique opportunity to hear from real-world CALL practitioners on how they practice CALL in their communities, and how the CALL culture has developed in local and…

Because of the high cost per pupil of computer-assisted instruction, a study was undertaken to determine if the use of multiple simultaneous users at a single terminal could significantly decrease the costs of CAI without lowering the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. (Author)

Presents a qualitative study of five groups of college students using Inspiration computer software to construct concept maps in an educational technology class. Considers how the maps changed during the semester, how course concepts were applied in a final project, and whether students reported that the collaborative concept mapping activity…

An experiment explored the effect of group size on student learning when small groups of students worked together at a computer assisted instruction (CAI) terminal. Both learning effectiveness and efficiency were considered. Sixty college students were divided into three groups--19 students studying alone, 16 studying in pairs, and 15 studying in…

Learners working on collaborative assignments in a face-to-face environment while using computers must engage in social as well as intellectual tasks. Indeed, at the residential undergraduate level, the development of interactive skills is often one of the more important aspects of their collaboration. Many existing facilities support such…

A study comparing the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and small group instruction found no significant difference in medical student achievement in oncology but higher achievement through small-group instruction in hematology. Students did not view CAI as more effective, but saw it as a supplement to traditional methods. (MSE)

The microcomputer used as a closed-circuit television typewriter and graphics generator is suggested as an alternative visual teaching strategy for lecture or discussions. The use of such a system in an introductory biology course for nonmajors is discussed. (JN)

Presents an experimental study conducted at the University of Twente (Netherlands) that investigated the learning effectiveness of concept mapping for computer-supported collaborative problem solving. Highlights include group interaction; shared cognition; knowledge acquisition; learning effectiveness; retention; creativity; and distributed…

At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY), some introductory science and engineering classes are taught in "studios," where students work on problems on computers, followed by a mini-lecture or summary and class discussion. The method replaces impersonal large-group lectures with less expensive, more effective instruction and more…