Examines the concept of meaningful learning in light of new information technology. Highlights include learning processes; types of learning; the computational theory of mind; the value of animations and simulations; and the importance of well-designed and well-written instructional materials. (LRW)

Explains the capture-recapture method which is used to estimate population size by researchers. Uses a computer simulation game to teach students the capture-recapture method of population size estimation. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)

Students taught leadership and ethics using asynchronous computer simulation (n=83) were compared with 113 taught conventionally. The treatment group performed better on questions written at the knowledge, comprehension, and analysis levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, regardless of learning mode preferences. (Contains 26 references.) (SK)

Introduces MacClade which is a Macintosh-based software package that uses the techniques of cladistic analysis to explore evolutionary patterns. Describes a novel and effective exercise that allows undergraduate biology majors to test a hypothesis about behavioral evolution in insects. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/YDS)

Shares some reflections about using simulations on the Internet to teach statistics. Discusses problems of learning statistics, Internet terminology, statistical resources on the Internet, interactivity, and problems related to the use of Internet resources. (ASK)

Discussion of support for authoring educational software focuses on a shift from attention on activities to products, and describes the SIMQUEST authoring system for designing and creating simulation-based multimedia learning environments that include support for the discovery process of the learner consisting of explanations, assignments, a…

Conceptual change is a popular, contemporary conception of meaningful learning. Conceptual change describes changes in conceptual frameworks (mental models or personal theories) that learners construct to comprehend phenomena. Different theories of conceptual change describe the reorganization of conceptual frameworks that results from different…

Students with high intrinsic motivation often out-perform students with low intrinsic motivation. However, little is known about the processes that lead to these differences. In education based on simulations or authentic electronic learning environments, this lack of insight is even more clear. The present study investigated what students…

The National Engineers Week Future City Competition provides compelling evidence of the power of pairing computer software and technology with traditional hands-on activities to teach challenging subject matter and also harder- to- measure "real" workplace skills. Now in its 13th year, the Competition asks middle school students to work in teams…

We propose, as a special way to explore the physics of flying objects, to use a flight simulator with a personalized scenery to reproduce the territory where students live. This approach increases the participation and attention of students to physics classes but also creates several opportunities for addressing side activities and arguments of…

The PC-based software technology, a computational-modeling course, for undergraduate chemistry students helps them to understand the molecular modeling in a better way. This course would be able to accommodate a wider array of topics and a greater depth of theory as the modeling is increasingly incorporated into the chemistry curriculum.

In 3 experiments, the authors investigated spatial updating in augmented reality environments. Participants learned locations of virtual objects on the physical floor. They were turned to appropriate facing directions while blindfolded before making pointing judgments (e.g., "Imagine you are facing X. Point to Y"). Experiments manipulated the…

Reports a case study of thirteen college students engaging in a role-play activity of a Maui legend in a virtual reality environment. Immersed in the authentic cultural environment, the students not only interacted with the environment and each other, but recreated the legend based on their interpretation of the culture. (CAK)

Creating a forum for conflict management students to conceptualize and implement collaborative negotiation techniques can be difficult to manage during classroom time. A computer-based simulation assigned in conjunction with in-class activities offers three distinct advantages for students who are beginning negotiators: (1) classroom time may be…

Games like "Civilization III," a strategy game that allows players to create civilizations that stand the test of time, are attracting increasing attention in the educational community for their potential to support learning. A recent article in BBC news observed that "using "Civilisation III" to teach students about history showed that it could…