Flexible Scripting To Facilitate Knowledge Construction In Computer Supported Collaborative Learning

This book discusses the significance of flexible scripting to structure CSCL against the framework of “Script theory of guidance” and reports on findings from two empirical studies on the effects of flexible scripting on collaboration in CSCL scenarios. In the first empirical study flexibility was accomplished through adaptivity, and through adaptability in the second. The results of these studies show that adaptive and adaptable scripts enhanced the quality of collaborative knowledge construction processes as well as learners’ collaboration skills, compared to inflexible scripts. The findings presented in this book will contribute to theory building of the scripting approach in CSCL. The authors propose two innovative ways of achieving flexible scripting and address the mechanisms by which adaptive versus adaptable script influences collaborative knowledge construction. Moreover, the adaptive and adaptable scripting approaches provide hands-on examples for practitioners and contribute to their understanding of teaching design in CSCL settings.

Theoretically, the term "script" appears to be rather ill-defined. This book clarifies the use of the term "script" in education. It approaches the term from at least three perspectives: cognitive psychology perspective, computer science perspective, and an educational perspective. The book provides learners with scripts that support them both in communication/coordination and in higher-order learning.

"This book presents best practice environments to implement e-collaborative knowledge construction, providing psychological and technical background information about issues present in such scenarios and presents methods to improve online learning environments"--Provided by publisher.

What are the barriers in computer-mediated communication for cooperative learning and work? Based on empirical research, the chapters of this book offer different perspectives on the nature and causes of such barriers for students and researchers in the field.

"This book details practices of and technologies for e-collaborative knowledge construction, providing insights in the issue of how technologies can bring advancements for learning"--Provided by publisher.

This book proposes and validates an information flow approach to analyzing knowledge co-construction and predicting group performance in the context of collaborative learning. In addition, it highlights the importance of socially shared regulation in collaborative learning, and illustrates in detail how it can be analyzed and promoted. The book investigates several innovative examples, including: Methodological approaches to studying and analyzing knowledge building and regulation in collaborative learning; Social software tools for capturing the dynamics of knowledge building and regulation in collaborative learning; Collective regulatory mechanisms to scaffold socially shared regulation in real-life collaborative learning; and Scripts and interventions to facilitate effective and productive collaborative learning on the basis of several case studies. The original methodological contributions to the analysis of knowledge building and scaffolding socially shared regulation make this an essential read for anyone interested in collaborative learning. This book will also be of interest to a wide audience of researchers, teachers, and students in the field of collaborative learning, as well as the rapidly growing community of people investigating how collaborative learning can be effectively used in education.

This book examines Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in different countries with a focus on recent developments and emerging trends. STEM education has become a gateway for socio-economic and technological development of nation-states. In light of this, many countries have prioritized STEM education and made it an integral part of their education at all levels. Moreover, many approaches have been used to develop STEM education and teach students to compete with the fast-developing world. However, despite its infinite benefits, it is also important to note that there is inequality in the access and delivery of STEM education within and across countries, which requires new approaches to improve STEM education and its teaching and learning. Therefore, this book consists of chapters on the development, teaching, and access of STEM education from different education levels, countries, and perspectives. The chapters discuss the concept of STEM education in general or on a particular level of education (. g., PreK–12 education, vocational education, and higher education), or subjects such as mathematics, computer science, and architecture. Moreover, the book includes chapters based on the nexus of STEM education and other subjects, including arts and culture, to teaching STEM education. The book contributes to understanding and improving STEM education and instruction globally.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL 2013, held in Paphos, Cyprus, in September 2013. The 31 full papers, 18 short papers, 14 demonstrations and 29 posters presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 194 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections. The topics addressed include open educational resources (OER), massive open online courses (MOOC), schools of the future, orchestration of learning activities, learning networks, teacher networks, bring your own device (BYOD), social media, learning analytics, personalization, mobile learning, computer-supported collaborative learning, game-based and simulation-based learning, and learning design.