Features articles on topics related to use of expert systems for training: machine intelligence effectiveness in military systems applications; automated maneuvering board training system; intelligent tutoring system for electronic troubleshooting; technology development for intelligent maintenance advisors; design of intelligent computer assisted…

Describes the development of a collaborative Internet-based simulation game for learning to solve knowledge management problems. The game builds on two starting points: on psychological and pedagogical developments in learning and instruction, and on a perceived need for better training of people working in the emerging field of knowledge…

Examines the instructional effects of computer graphics and rehearsal strategies on student achievement of different educational objectives. Participants were 63 college students. Results indicated that students who received textbook material complemented by specific computer graphics technologies achieved significantly higher scores than did…

Presents experience-based pedagogical designs, both first-person and third-person experiences, which make the most of information and communication technology. Highlights include goal-based learning; Web-based role-play simulation; rule-based computer simulations; case studies; distributed problem-based learning; critical incident…

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…

The goal of this project is to develop a unique simulation environment that can be used to increase students' interest and expertise in Computer Science curriculum. Hands-on experience with physical or simulated equipment is an essential ingredient for learning, but many approaches to training develop a separate piece of equipment or software for…

This study was designed to examine the effects of the competency (low vs. high) and interaction type (proactive vs. responsive) of pedagogical agents as learning companions (PALs) on learning, self-efficacy, and attitudes. Participants were 72 undergraduates in an introductory computer-literacy course who were randomly assigned to one of four…

Virtual reality is an immersive, interactive medium that manipulates the senses in order provide users with simulated experiences in computer-generated worlds. The visual design of virtual reality is an important issue, but literature has tended to stress the medium's instructional potential rather than setting forth a protocol for designing…

The challenges and problems in both designing and conducting research on distance learning courses are considered in light of the present cyberspace revolution. This paper discusses: the future possibilities of Internet-based learning; assumptions of online courses which are usually embedded in constructivist and socio-constructivist theories and…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of animated instruction and levels of practice on application learning in a computer-based instructional (CBI) science lesson. A total of 119 fourth and fifth grade students participated in an introductory lesson covering Newton's Laws of Motion. Three levels of visual elaboration (static…

This paper examines the cognitive processes associated with higher-order thinking strategies--i.e., cognitive processes directly associated with the employment of knowledge in the service of problem solving and creativity--in order to more clearly define a prescribed instructional method to improve problem-solving skills. The first section of the…

In the face of panic and life-threatening situations in a hospital emergency room (ER), doctors must rely on well-defined procedures to assess the situation and respond appropriately. Because decisions to act must not only be timely, but also ingrained and swift, practice and experience in a wide range of situations is essential. This paper…

The evaluator is an instructional system product that provides practice, testing capability, and feedback in a way not yet seen in computer-assisted instruction. Training methods using an evaluator contain scenario-based simulation exercises, followed by a critique of performance. A focus on competency-based education and performance makes the…

A dilemma in designing computer simulations for instruction is how to provide a challenging exploratory environment and yet provide sufficient support so that students do not become lost. Directive support such as corrective feedback may detract from the exploratory quality of a simulation. Two methods of non-directive support are: (1) simplifying…

Prior research on learning has been linked to instruction by the derivation of general principles of instructional design from learning theories. However, such design principles are often difficult to apply to particular instructional issues. A new method for relating research on learning to instructional design is proposed: Different ways of…