137,724 research outputs found
Teaching psychology to computing students
The aim of this paper is twofold. The first aim is to discuss some observations gained from teaching Psychology to Computing students, highlighting both the wide range of areas where Psychology is relevant to Computing education and the topics that are relevant at different stages of studentsâ education. The second aim is to consider findings from research investigating the characteristics of Computing and Psychology students. It is proposed that this information could be considered in the design and use of Psychology materials for Computing students.
The format for the paper is as follows. Section one will illustrate the many links between the disciplines of Psychology & Computing; highlighting these links helps to answer the question that many Computing students ask, what can Psychology offer to Computing? Section two will then review some of the ways that I have been involved in teaching Psychology to Computing students, from A/AS level to undergraduate and postgraduate level. Section three will compare the profiles of Computing and Psychology students (e.g. on age, gender and motivation to study), to highlight how an understanding of these factors can be used to adapt Psychology teaching materials for Computing students. The conclusions which cover some practical suggestions are presented in section four
Rethinking affordance
n/a â Critical survey essay retheorising the concept of 'affordance' in digital media context. Lead article in a special issue on the topic, co-edited by the authors for the journal Media Theory
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Online tutorial support in open distance learning through audio-graphic SCMC: tutor impressions
The adoption of audio-graphic conferencing brings with it changes to the learning experience for tutors and students alike. These need to be researched to gain an insight into the learning experience of those teaching and being taught through the medium. One of the conferencing tools that has been utilised for much of the documented research on audio-graphic conferencing is the Lyceum software, used at the UK Open University since 2002 to provide tutorial support for higher level language learners. The use of the software has been reported at different stages, from the pilot projects since 1997 (Hauck & Haezewindt, 1999, Shield 2000, Kötter 2001, Hewer and Shield 2001), to reports of the mainstream use (Hampel 2003, Hampel & Hauck 2004). It seems logical that the next step should be to research into the tutorsâ experiences of the audio-graphic tool, which is a key element in the CALL research agenda (Warschauer, 1997; Debski & Levy, 1999). As the Open University prepares to phase out the software and replace it with a Moodle-based open-content audio-graphic synchronous conferencing tool, the insight into teaching with such tools becomes more valuable to other language learning professionals and institutions.
In this paper we will report on a study of data collected from 18 tutors after spending a year teaching a new beginnersâ course online. We will examine their perceptions of the audio-graphic tool and challenge some of the results from the initial research into audio-graphic conferencing. Most tutors found the teaching experience very positive and liked using the tool; however some experienced technical problems and believe that these affect the learning experience. In addition we will report on the first and successful use of the environment for assessment purposes
Evaluating the development of wearable devices, personal data assistants and the use of other mobile devices in further and higher education institutions
This report presents technical evaluation and case studies of the use of wearable and mobile computing mobile devices in further and higher education. The first section provides technical evaluation of the current state of the art in wearable and mobile technologies and reviews several innovative wearable products that have been developed in recent years. The second section examines three scenarios for further and higher education where wearable and mobile devices are currently being used. The three scenarios include: (i) the delivery of lectures over mobile devices, (ii) the augmentation of the physical campus with a virtual and mobile component, and (iii) the use of PDAs and mobile devices in field studies. The first scenario explores the use of web lectures including an evaluation of IBM's Web Lecture Services and 3Com's learning assistant. The second scenario explores models for a campus without walls evaluating the Handsprings to Learning projects at East Carolina University and ActiveCampus at the University of California San Diego . The third scenario explores the use of wearable and mobile devices for field trips examining San Francisco Exploratorium's tool for capturing museum visits and the Cybertracker field computer. The third section of the report explores the uses and purposes for wearable and mobile devices in tertiary education, identifying key trends and issues to be considered when piloting the use of these devices in educational contexts
Evaluation Factors for Multi-Stakeholder Broadband Visual Communication Projects
This paper presents a summary of multifaceted
evaluation factors that we have
identified through our research with
Broadband Visual Communication (BVC)
projects involving multiple stakeholders. The
main benefit of these evaluation factors is
that they provide a general evaluation
framework for multiple stakeholder projects.
The factors are social infrastructure,
technical infrastructure, physical space,
interaction style and content
Factors influencing the success of computer mediated communication (CMC) environments in university teaching: a review and case study
Despite its potential benefits, the effectiveness of CMC when used to support learning in higher education is very variable, making it important to identify those factors which best predict successful implementations. A review of the literature from the past few years, presented in the first half of this paper, suggests that, consistent with Activity Theory (Leont'ev, 1978), the critical factors are those which provide a context and rationale for online communication by helping users to establish a shared purpose. However, generating empirical support for this hypothesis presents two kinds of methodological problem: specifying the methods and measures necessary to discern the existence and impact of shared purpose; and dealing with the difficulties of making controlled comparisons in this area. The second half of the paper illustrates, via an implementation case study, something of how these methodological problems might be resolved, and presents evidence in favour of the central importance of shared purpose
Learning and interaction in groups with computers: when do ability and gender matter?
In the research reported in this paper, we attempt to identify the background and process factors influencing the effectiveness of groupwork with computers in terms of mathematics learning. The research used a multi-site case study design in six schools and involved eight groups of six mixed-sex, mixed-ability pupils (aged 9-12) undertaking three research tasks â two using Logo and one a database. Our findings suggest that, contrary to other recent research, the pupil characteristics of gender and ability have no direct influence on progress in group tasks with computers. However, status effects â pupils' perceptions of gender and ability â do have an effect on the functioning of the group, which in turn can impede progress for all pupils concerned
Addressivity and Sociability in âCeltic Menâ
This paper is part of a larger project which examines the sociable dimensions of computer-mediated communication in local newsgroups on the Internet. This paper, however, takes as its primary data a complete thread of eighty five messages posted to RumComâs largest ISP specific newsgroup,\ud
rumcom.local. The messages share the subject header âCeltic Menâ and play off contributors ideas about regional aspects of masculinity and male sexuality. As a whole they provide a good example of both a specific culturally located example of developing communication and a more general example of newsgroup CMC. Using this case as our exemplar we shall hold up for examination three matters: how the technology and software supplied by RumCom influence the form of interaction within the newsgroup; how different types of addressivity are used by posters to manage their communication; and how the notion of sociability figures as a useful device to characterise the specific traits of newsgroup interaction
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Conducting research on the internet
This article sets out to review the main issues facing IMR today. As well as offering guidelines for good practice (based on my experiences and those of other researchers in conducting psychological studies via the internet), I hope to stimulate research that assesses the validity of IMR procedures. As most psychologists who are considering using the internet to support their research will not want to become expert programmers, I also provide a list of resources available to help implement an internet-mediated study with minimal technical expertise
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