Animated pedagogical agents (APAs) have the potential to provide one-on-one, just-in-time instruction, guidance or mentoring in classrooms where such individualized human interactions may be infeasible. Much current APA research focuses on a wide range of design variables tested with small samples or in laboratory settings, while overlooking…

Virtual worlds are highly immersive, engaging and popular computer mediated environments being explored by children and adults. Why then aren't more teachers using virtual worlds in the classroom with primary and secondary school students? Reasons often cited are the learning required to master the technology, low-end graphics cards, poor…

What and how much can children learn without subject teachers? In an attempt to find a limit to self organized learning, we explored the capacity of 10-14 year old Tamil-speaking children in a remote Indian village to learn basic molecular biology, initially on their own with a Hole-in-the-Wall public computer facility, and later with the help of…

An evaluation of the Mathematics and Computer Assisted Remedial Teaching (MASCART) project in the Pre-Entry Science Course (PESC) at the University of Botswana focused on two questions: (1) Considering the conditions for successful implementation highlighted in the literature, has the implementation of computers in the PESC department been such…

This book summarizes research on the various ways that students' cultural backgrounds and innate ways of learning affect academic achievement. It also offers descriptions and recommendations for improving science and mathematics education for minorities and women, based on successful programs, that take these differences into account. The focus is…

Technology has the potential to make a significant impact on education at all learning levels, but it will be only as powerful as the degree to which it is integrated effectively into the total instructional program. Educators responsible for effective instruction must assume leadership in achieving this goal. This paper describes the background,…

This article describes a well-funded and well-equipped model of teacher professional development that encouraged the promotion of information-rich learning environments for learning science. A community of practice using face-to-face and electronic communication encouraged learning, and generated and ensured pedagogical change and innovation. The…

Describes activities of the Educational Technology Center at Harvard University, which focus on the use of computers and other technology to improve K-12 instruction in science, mathematics, and computing. Topics discussed include curriculum development; students' prior conceptions; the construction of scientific knowledge; the use of software;…