Contribution: This paper presents the "PBL classroom model," an agent-based simulation (ABS) that allows testing of several scenarios of a project-based learning (PBL) application by considering different levels of soft-skills, and students' perception of the methodology. Background: While the community has made great advances in…

A considerable interest in using Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis in education has been observed recently. Despite the advantages of the wiki technology, a number of questions concerning design of appropriate activities and their learning effectiveness remain open. In this paper, we present the results of three activities involving first-year…

An approach to teaching the mental status examination to sophomore medical students at the Wayne State University School of Medicine incorporates live simulations, a detailed handout, a pretest and post-test, and a short lecture and discussion. The data suggest significant post-test gains, but there were negative findings regarding the handout.…

The use of online instructional delivery techniques such as instructional web sites, online communication tools, and multimedia productions to deliver classes is a rapidly growing practice in education. Knowledge of how student a priori experiences with computer technologies and applications correlate to student perceptions of and success with…

Eighty-five students in education courses at the University of Indiana participated in a study to determine the potential effects of instructional games in changing players' attitudes. The game selected was intended to make players more positive in their attitude toward the use of instructional games. Each player (1) was asked to predict the…

Aptitude-treatment interaction research is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the interaction of achievement and instructional method. Previous research has suggested that students with lower prior achievement require maximal instructional support. Recent research on this relationship is reviewed, as well as the relationship between…

The study compares the content retention by students who are self-paced with content retention by students whose pacing is modified by instructors. The subjects included 148 students enrolled in an introductory college level child development course. One group of 74 students was randomly assigned to a self-paced section and another group of 74…

An experimental course in English for non-English speaking post graduate research students is described here. The course was intended to enable the students to use English efficiently in exchanges related to their profession. The selection process, teaching methods, and the "exit test" are described and a discussion of the adequate and inadequate…