Learning to solve correlational problems: A study of the social and material distribution of cognition.

This dissertation examines the contributions of teacher and computer spreadsheet to the development of correlational reasoning skills in the context of a computerized instructional intervention

Effects of Signaling and Practice Types in Video-Based Software Training

Video tutorials are a popular means of learning software applications but their design and effectiveness have received little attention. This study investigated the effectiveness of video tutorials for software training. In addition, it examined whether two multimedia design principles, signaling and practice types, contribute to task performance, mental effort, and self-efficacy. The study participants were 114 undergraduate students from a nursing department. A two (no signals vs. signals) × two (video practice vs. video practice video) mixed factorial design was used for testing the main study hypotheses. The analysis revealed a unique contribution of signaling and practice types on task performance and self-efficacy. Contrary to expectations, however, no combined effect of signaling and practice types was found. This paper is concluded with a discussion of the findings and implications for future research

Preface: Distributed Cognition and Educational Practice

Traditionally, cognition has been treated as residing in the head, as being a property of the individual mind. To a large extent, current psychological and educational practice is founded upon this conception of cognition. Nevertheless, in recent years and in cognitive traditions such as educational psychology and cognitive science it has been advocated that cognition does not reside only in the head. Rather, it is suggested that cognition extends beyond the skin, essentially being distributed along two main dimensions; material and social. Assuming that an individual is performing a certain task, the material dimension of the distribution refers to the incorporation of all kinds of mental and physical artifacts in which cognition is encapsulated. On the other hand, the social dimension of the distribution of cognition refers to the involvement of social others who provide assistance in many ways during task execution by functioning as cognitive resources

Research on e-Learning and ICT in EducationTechnological, Pedagogical and Instructional Perspectives /

XXI, 314 p. 61 illus., 48 illus. in color.online