This book provides an archival forum for researchers, academics, practitioners, and industry professionals interested and/or engaged in the reform of the ways of teaching and learning through advancing current learning environments towards smart learning environments. It facilitates opportunities for discussions and constructive dialogue among various stakeholders on the limitations of existing learning environments, need for reform, innovative uses of emerging pedagogical approaches and technologies, and sharing and promotion of best practices, leading to the evolution, design and implementation of smart learning environments. This book also focus on the interplay of pedagogy, technology and their fusion towards the advancement of smart learning environments.

Digital literacy practices have often been celebrated as means of transcending the constraints of the physical world through the production of new social spaces. At the same time, literacy researchers and educators are coming to understand all the ways that place matters. This volume, with contributors from across the globe, considers how space/place, identities, and the role of digital literacies create opportunities for individuals and communities to negotiate living, being, and learning together with and through digital media. The chapters in this volume consider how social, cultural, historical, and political literacies are brought to bear on a range of places that traverse the urban, rural, and suburban/exurban, with emphasis placed on the ways digital technology is used to create identities and do work within social, digital, and material worlds. This includes agentive work in digital literacies from a variety of identities or subjectivities that disrupt metronormativity, urban centrism (and other -isms) on the way to more authentic engagement with their communities and others. Featuring instances of research and practice across intersections of differences (including, but not limited to race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, and language) and places, the contributions in this volume demonstrate the ways that digital literacies hold educative potential.

This book explores the state of open education in terms of self-directed learning on the African continent. Through a combination of conceptual, systematic literature review and empirical chapters, readers will get a research-based impression of these aspects in this area. Apart from presenting existing wider trends regarding open education, this book also reports on effective open practices in support of self-directed learning.

Highlighting and illustrating several important and interesting theoretical trends that have emerged in the continuing development of instructional technology, this book's organizational framework is based on the notion of two opposing camps. One evolves out of the intelligent tutoring movement, which employs artificial-intelligence technologies in the service of student modeling and precision diagnosis, and the other emerges from a constructivist/developmental perspective that promotes exploration and social interaction, but tends to reject the methods and goals of the student modelers. While the notion of opposing camps tends to create an artificial rift between groups of researchers, it represents a conceptual distinction that is inherently more interesting and informative than the relatively meaningless divide often drawn between "intelligent" and "unintelligent" instructional systems.
An evident trend is that researchers in both "camps" view their computer learning environments as "cognitive tools" that can enhance learning, performance, and understanding. Cognitive tools are objects provided by the instructional environment that allow students to incorporate new auxiliary methods or symbols into their social problem solving which otherwise would be unavailable. A final section of the book represents researchers who are assimilating and accommodating the wisdom and creativity of their neighbors from both camps, perhaps forming the look of technology for the future. When the idea of model tracing in a computer-based environment is combined with appreciation for creative mind-extension cognitive tools and for how a community of learners can facilitate learning, a camp is created where AI technologists and social constructivist learning theorists can feel equally at home.

It is surprising that there is so little research on textbooks, given their centrality to teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools. Textbooks have become a focus of political and cultural controversy, advocating a multicultural curriculum that has sparked some vigorous protests. Research is absent in this debate; therefore, questions of legitimate knowledge, the role of textbooks, textbook design, policy selection issues, and economic issues concerning the marketplace are not part of the current debate. Without insights of research on considerate text, mentioning, illustrations and so forth, the current controversy will result in publishers responding to demands for more content not less; thus, textbooks will become compendia of information that on the surface satisfy everyone.
This volume demonstrates how research on important issues relative to textbook design can advance our knowledge about what makes textbooks effective learning tools, and thus inform policymakers, publishers, and those involved in textbook selection. Representing pure and applied approaches, researchers present papers on the quality of writing, the role of questions, the role of pictures and illustrations, and the role of auxiliary materials in the design of effective textbooks. The chapters provide insight into research and its application to textbook design and improvement -- stimulating others to follow this lead.

There is an increasing trend for educators and trainers to produce instructional materials themselves. With the aid of desktop publishing and computer software, even those with minimal talent can produce visually stunning graphics and diagrams. This text gives guidelines for the design of instructional diagrams and aims to provide readers with confidence to develop material which is clear and unconfusing. The author takes a systematic approach to the process of diagram development. By demonstrating how principles of good design can be applied to realistic development problems, the reader is taught how to use the principles in a practical context. The text uses a problem-solving approach to tackle the task. It provides activities that lead the reader through various aspects of diagram design, from the earliest conceptual stages to the eventual finished product.

This volume centers on the words and experiences of teachers and students who used QUILL -- a software package developed by the authors to aid in writing instruction. It looks in detail at the stories of these early users and considers questions relevant for other teachers, students, researchers, and developers of educational innovations. Questions posed include:
* What does it mean to develop an environment for literacy in an actual classroom?
* How can a teacher create an environment in which students work together toward meaningful goals?
* How can a teacher promote the rich communication so necessary for developing language?
* What is the role of technology in the practice and development of literacy?
The examination of the QUILL experiences provides a fuller and more revealing account of what it meant to use QUILL than would have been possible through standard evaluation techniques. At the same time, the focus on the particulars also finds analogues in analyses of similar pieces of open-ended software or educational innovations in general.

This edited book explores the use of technology to enable us to visualise the life sciences in a more meaningful and engaging way. It will enable those interested in visualisation techniques to gain a better understanding of the applications that can be used in visualisation, imaging and analysis, education, engagement and training. The reader will also be able to learn about the use of visualisation techniques and technologies for the historical and forensic settings. The chapters presented in this volume cover such a diverse range of topics, with something for everyone. We present here chapters on 3D visualising novel stent grafts to aid treatment of aortic aneuryms; confocal microscopy constructed vascular models in patient education; 3D patient specific virtual reconstructions in surgery; virtual reality in upper limb rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis and virtual clinical wards. In addition, we present chapters in artificial intelligence in ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia; carpal tunnel release visualisation techniques; visualising for embryology education and artificial intelligence data on bone mechanics. Finally we conclude with chapters on visualising patient communication in a general practice setting; digital facial depictions of people from the past; instructor made cadaveric videos, novel cadaveric techniques for enhancing visualisation of the human body and finally interactive educational videos and screencasts. This book explores the use of technologies from a range of fields to provide engaging and meaningful visual representations of the biomedical sciences. It is therefore an interesting read for researchers, developers and educators who want to learn how visualisation techniques can be used successfully for a variety of purposes, such as educating students or training staff, interacting with patients and biomedical procedures in general.

Educational Communities of Inquiry: Theoretical Framework, Research, and Practice is an extensive reference that offers theoretical foundations and developments associated with the COl theoretical framework. This collection is a valuable source of ideas, research opportunities, and challenges for scholars and practitioners in the field of education technology.

Learn specific strategies for implementing social emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness, and well-being in a virtual classroom. This essential new resource from well-being experts Carla Tantillo Philibert and Allison Slade will help you build students' Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation skills, school connectedness, Social Awareness, voice, and agency in remote or hybrid settings. Appropriate for teachers of all grade levels, as well as for instructional leaders and parents, the book emphasizes the educator's own self-care and emotional intelligence, so you can become more aware of how the environment affects you along with your students. It also offers ideas for planning collaboratively with colleagues and engaging families in the virtual environment. Throughout, the authors share a variety of activities and practices you can implement immediately, along with sample scripts and educator tips. With the inspiring advice in this book, you'll be able to help create emotionally healthy classrooms and school environments so that all students and educators can thrive, even during the most uncertain times.

Cooperative Computer-Aided Authoring and Learning: A Systems Approach describes in detail a practical system for computer assisted authoring and learning. Drawing from the experiences gained during the Nestor project, jointly run between the Universities of Karlsruhe, Kaiserslautern and Freiburg and the Digital Equipment Corp. Center for Research and Advanced Development, the book presents a concrete example of new concepts in the domain of computer-aided authoring and learning. The conceptual foundation is laid by a reference architecture for an integrated environment for authoring and learning. This overall architecture represents the nucleus, shell and common denominator for the R&D activities carried out. From its conception, the reference architecture was centered around three major issues: Cooperation among and between authors and learners in an open, multimedia and distributed system as the most important attribute; Authoring/learning as the central topic; Laboratory as the term which evoked the most suitable association with the envisioned authoring/learning environment. Within this framework, the book covers four major topics which denote the most important technical domains, namely: The system kernel, based on object orientation and hypermedia; Distributed multimedia support; Cooperation support, and Reusable instructional design support. Cooperative Computer-Aided Authoring and Learning: A Systems Approach is a major contribution to the emerging field of collaborative computing and is essential reading for researchers and practitioners alike. Its pedagogic flavor also makes it suitable for use as a text for a course on the subject.

Transformative Teaching Around the World compiles inspiring stories from Fulbright-awarded teachers whose instructional practices have impacted schools and communities globally. Whether thriving or struggling in their classrooms, instructing in person or online, or pushing for changes at high or low costs and risk levels, teachers devote intense energy and careful decision-making to their students and fellow staff. This book showcases an expansive variety of educational practices fostered across international contexts by real teachers: active and empowering learning strategies, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, cultural responsiveness and sustainability, humanistic integration of technology, and more. Pre- and in-service teachers, teacher educators, online/blended instructors, and other stakeholders will find a wealth of grounded, motivating approaches for transforming the lives of learners and their communities.

How can you use the latest digital technology to create an environment in which people can learn European languages while performing a meaningful real-world task and experiencing the cultural aspect of learning to cook European dishes? This book explains how to do this from A to Z, covering how a real-world digital environment for language learning was designed, built and researched. The project makes language learning motivational and fun by tapping into people's interest in both cooking and technology - you can learn a language while cooking and interacting with a speaking digital kitchen. The kitchens provide spoken instructions in the foreign language on how to prepare European cuisine. Digital sensors are inserted in or attached to all the kitchen equipment and ingredients, so the digital kitchen detects what learners are doing and gives them feedback. Learners are also able to communicate with the kitchens and can ask for help via photos and videos if they don't understand any foreign language words. Based on two research grants, the book provides five research studies showing the learning experiences of users in five European countries. The book explains the principles and procedures involved in the project, enabling others to design and implement a real-world digital learning environment in the same way. It includes numerous photographs of the system in use and evidence of how and what 250 users actually learnt.

The designers of educational or training programs that employ electronic technology might have many questions about a project while it is still in the early stages of development. For instance: Is the program's presentation too simple, or too complex for its target audience? Does the pacing of the program help or hinder comprehension? Which aspects of the program are the most appealing, and why? Formative evaluation can answer these, or similar questions. It can help guide designers of television programs, microcomputer software, interactive videodiscs, or virtually any other educational item, in making modifications that can lead to the development of a final product that fully achieves its stated goals.
Until very recently, however, the person interested in avoiding potential problems through the use of formative evaluation would have been faced with difficulties of a different kind. Comprehensive treatment of formative evaluation has been scarce, and published discussion on formative evaluation of computer-based materials has been virtually nonexistent. Until now, that is.
Barbara Flagg's "Formative Evaluation" for Educational Technologies provides comprehensive treatment of formative evaluation. The book offers:
* extensive coverage of all the methods evaluators might use to assess the user friendliness, the appeal, and the outcome effectiveness of an educational program.
* extensive focus on new technologies
* coverage of all phases of program development, from initial idea to final product
* discussion of formative evaluation as part of the broader field of curriculum evaluation
* numerous case studies.
This volume will appeal to a widevariety of people engaged in formative evaluation. It is an excellent guide for newcomers to the field; it is a state-of-the art document for established practitioners of instructional design and curriculum evaluation.

This volume contains a selection of papers on the most up-to-date experiences in the field of computers and education. It includes most relevant case studies and novel research results addressing technical and methodological aspects of computers and educations. It is relevant to researchers, practitioners, teaching staff and developers working in e-learning, computer-based education, educational software, distributed learning, lifelong learning, and open and distance learning.

This book contributes to both mathematical problem solving and the communication of mathematics by students, and the role of personal and home technologies in learning beyond school. It does this by reporting on major results and implications of the Problem@Web project that investigated youngsters' mathematical problem solving and, in particular, their use of digital technologies in tackling, and communicating the results of their problem solving, in environments beyond school. The book has two focuses: Mathematical problem solving skills and strategies, forms of representing and expressing mathematical thinking, technological-based solutions; and students and teachers perspectives on mathematics learning, especially school compared to beyond-school mathematics.

In this unprecedented work, Juliann Cortese heightens our understanding of the learning process as it relates to information acquired through the Internet. Internet Learning and the Building of Knowledge shows us how design elements such as pop-up windows with augmented content and relational links influence knowledge structure as well as definitional and factual knowledge. The book also notes that personal factors such as motivation and expertise interact with web site design to influence learning outcomes. It also sheds light on how learning from a website can be primed based on the content presented before exposure. This book is a must for educators concerned with designing hypermedia environments for learning.

This book offers an important overview of technology-enhanced education in Southern Africa. With original research from Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, this book provides in-depth scientific scholarship focused on the dynamic multimodal learning environments in the region. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has largely had to adjust to remotelearning. Hence, the editors and contributors pull together important research on digital pedagogies and assessment to demonstrate how technology can be effectively employed for multimodal learning environments within the Southern African context. This book will be of interest and value to scholars of digital education, multimodal learning and education within Southern Africa and beyond.

Discussing the future value of computers as tools for cognitive development, the volume reviews past literature and presents new data from a Piagetian perspective. Constructivism in the Computer Age includes such topics as: teaching LOGO to children; the computers effects on social development; computer graphics as a new language; and computers as a means of enhancing reflective thinking.

The development of technologies, education, and economy play an important role in modern society. Digital literacy is important for personal development and for the economic growth of society. Technological learning provides students with specific knowledge and capabilities for using new technologies in their everyday lives and in their careers. Examining the Roles of Teachers and Students in Mastering New Technologies is a critical scholarly resource that examines computer literacy knowledge levels in students and the perception of computer use in the classroom from various teacher perspectives. Featuring a wide range of topics such as higher education, special education, and blended learning, this book is ideal for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, academicians, policymakers, administrators, researchers, and students.

Textbooks have been standard schoolroom fixtures for as long as most living citizens of this country can remember. Many turn-of-the-century students were introduced to reading through the moralistic McGuffey Readers and struggled through the rather drab and colorless pages of volumes on history, geography and civics. In contrast, today's textbooks contain not only narrative content accompanied by colorful photographs and graphics, but also section and chapter exercises that are extended through the use of worksheets and other materials. Moreover, the textbook and its related student materials are packaged together with teacher's editions and tests in grade-level sets that amount to content area programs rather than mere texts.

Education has a substantial impact and influences on almost all sectors in modern society. Different computer-supported educational systems have been developing for many decades to support and make easier teaching and learning processes on all levels of education. Influences of rapid development of Information Communication Technologies and other related disciplines on design and implementation of intelligent, sophisticated educational systems are evident. Nowadays intensive development and wide applications of Artificial Intelligent techniques significantly affect the development of intelligent tutoring systems, smart learning environments that incorporate virtual and augmented reality and robots. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, but also in the future in order to establish innovative teaching and learning practices facilitated by powerful educational datamining and learning analytics. This book presents a collection of 17 chapters that bring interesting aspects of the state-of-the-art of application of intelligent techniques in different educational processes and settings. We believe that the works presented in the book will be of great interest to readers and that will motivate them to try to enhance presented approaches and propose better and more advanced solutions.

In a context in which explicit attention to the curriculum has been sidelined in universities' strategy, this book makes an argument for why curriculum matters, both in understanding the effects of unbundled online learning and more broadly. It takes up two particular curriculum issues which are amplified in an unbundled context: differences in the formulation of curriculum between disciplines and professional fields, and the extent these are recognised in university strategy; and the push for constructivist pedagogies, and its effects on curriculum construction. Since the onslaught of MOOCs in 2012, unbundled forms of online learning offered via partnerships with external online program management and MOOC providers have grown significantly across the university sector. There has been much debate about the implications of these partnerships but the focus has predominantly been on the engagement of students and their learning. This book takes a different and novel approach, looking instead at the effects on curriculum and knowledge. Drawing on selected case studies, the book reflects on how university leaders and academics engaged with MOOCs and other forms of unbundled online learning in the early 2010s, and the effects of these reforms on curriculum practice. It captures in detail the complex and difficult work involved in university curriculum making in a way rarely seen in discussions of higher education. And it generates new in-sights about some of the critical problems manifest in the ongoing moves to embrace unbundled online learning today.