Based on a previous analysis of game design patterns and related effects in an educational scenario, the following paper presents an experimental study. In the study a course for Basic Life Support training has been evaluated and two game design patterns have been applied to the course. The hypotheses evaluated in this paper relate to game design…

Especially in the context of technology-enhanced informal learning, it is crucial to understand how to design information sources in such a way that learners are not overwhelmed by the demands of the learning process, but at the same time are engaged in higher order thinking processes. Guidance aids learners in dealing with the demands of a…

Disorientation problems influence student learning. To address this issue, this study uses an integrative approach to investigate the causes and consequences of disorientation problems so that a complete understanding can be obtained. Unlike previous empirical studies, which use statistical techniques, this study attempts to expose unexpected…

The purpose of the two experiments was to investigate the potential effects of different types of visualizations and self-explanation prompts on learning human cardiovascular system in a multimedia environment. In Experiments 1 and 2, 70 and 44 college students were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design with…

Describes a study of teacher education students at West Virginia University that was conducted to determine the effects of a computer-awareness learning module, instructional format, and prior computer use on computer anxiety. The relationships among performance, computer anxiety, and prior experience are also discussed. (Contains 12 references.)…

Describes a study that examined potential predictor variables and their relationship to computer aversion among preservice teachers. It was hypothesized that prior experience, ownership of a personal computer, and critical thinking ability would be negatively related to computer aversion, and that an introductory computer literacy course would…

Responding to the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) "Essential Computing Competencies for Educators" (1983), the teacher's education program at Texas A&M University developed several computer literacy courses for its students. An evaluation was conducted of the first of these courses, "Microcomputer Literacy for Educators," to…

This paper reports on the results of a preliminary investigation of the extent to which first-year students entering a university during the summer, who enroll in the introductory information systems course in a college of business, meet the requirements for the course upon entrance. A second objective is to recommend a course of action to be…

This pretest/posttest study measured the change in computer literacy and attitudes toward computers among 36 preservice teachers enrolled in an introductory computer training course that was focused on developing programing skills. Independent variables included age, gender, locus of control, final grade in the course, and prior experience in word…

This paper provides a model of course-embedded assessment for use in an undergraduate Accounting Information Systems course, and reports the results obtained from implementation. The profession's educational objectives are mapped to specific computer skills and assignments, to provide direct evidence of learning outcomes. Indirect evidence of…