This study examined hands-on experiences in the context of an investigation of viruses and explored how and why hands-on experiences may be effective. We sought to understand whether or not touching and manipulating materials and objects could lead to a deeper, more effective type of knowing than that we obtain from sight or sound alone. Four…

This project aimed to examine whether the use of computers could have a positive impact on the performance of academic tasks and their behaviour whilst completing them of children with ADHD. This small exploratory study therefore investigated the impact of the use of a laptop computer, with and without stimulating animations and features…

This project developed as a result of some inconclusive data from an investigation of whether a relationship existed between the use of formative assessment opportunities and performance, as measured by final grade. We were expecting to show our colleagues and students that use of formative assessment resources had the potential to improve…

The key elements of online course design and pedagogy suggested by research as promoting effective learning are discussed through the lens of constructivist epistemology. Presentation of content, instructor-student and student-student interactions, individual and group activities, and student assessment are each addressed, in turn. The focus is on…

Educational institutions have rushed to provide online courses; however, too often schools have discovered the difficulty in transferring effective teaching strategies in the classroom to an online environment. A unique aspect of quality online courses is how they rely heavily on effective collaboration to create a meaningful learning environment.…

As everyone enters the 21st Century there is a great deal of discussion in business and education circles alike about the type of skills the youth will need to survive and thrive in this century. At the same time, there is little known today about the level of 21st Century skills students currently have. In part this is because, as a nation,…

Traditional classroom teaching preparation does not fully prepare faculty for the special requirements of teaching interactive television courses. Faculty who teach these courses often have to update their skills in current technology, plan courses differently, and work with distance education staff to prepare and deliver courses. This paper…

This practicum was designed to address the problem of computer anxiety and minimal computer usage among preservice teachers. An integrated curriculum was designed based on guidelines from the International Society for Technology in Education, in an attempt to require computer use by students for course assignments and instruction. Workshops…

As the number and complexity of required technology-related competencies grow, basic teacher education media courses need to develop alternatives to instructor-led lecture-based formats in order to maintain essential components of course content while incorporating new content in expanding technologies. Creating technology-mediated instructional…

In order to be effective, instruction must be more than tailored to the individual: it must be a part of a larger system designed to support individualized learning. An effective individualized instructional environment is a dynamic system; it involves instructors who embrace the concept of individualizing instruction, and provides guidance to…

Empirical evaluations of learning with hypertext have shown contradictory results. Adaptive hypertext was introduced to solve some problems when learning with hypertext. This paper reports on two empirical studies comparing different forms of adaptive hypertext. In the first experiment, four treatments were realized by a combination of adaptive…

This paper describes the evaluation of high quality learning designs, which are being selected for possible redevelopment in a National Project funded by the Australian University Teaching Committee (AUTC). The project focuses on "Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Their Role in Flexible Learning" and is evaluating…

This paper presents information for educators on delivering an Internet-based course. The paper is divided into three parts. Part 1, "Teaching on the Web, What Is It?," lists advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face classroom instruction, traditional distance education, and Internet-based education which combines features from both…

There are many sources of professional development for K-6 teachers that help them learn how to use computers, but much less is available on how to use computers in classrooms to enhance learning. Members of the Department of Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Melbourne (Australia) have developed CLICK! (Computers and Learning…

This descriptive study investigates the uses of SMART Board, an interactive electronic whiteboard, in secondary school foreign language classes. The paper first discusses how SMART Board can facilitate the teaching process. SMART Board supports the foreign language teaching process in three main ways: it helps the presentation of new linguistic…