Converging Perspectives on Conceptual Change


Book Description

Conceptual change, how conceptual understanding is transformed, has been investigated extensively since the 1970s. The field has now grown into a multifaceted, interdisciplinary effort with strands of research in cognitive and developmental psychology, education, educational psychology, and the learning sciences. Converging Perspectives on Conceptual Change brings together an extensive team of expert contributors from around the world, and offers a unique examination of how distinct lines of inquiry can complement each other and have converged over time. Amin and Levrini adopt a new approach to assembling the diverse research on conceptual change: the combination of short position pieces with extended synthesis chapters within each section, as well as an overall synthesis chapter at the end of the volume, provide a coherent and comprehensive perspective on conceptual change research. Arranged over five parts, the book covers a number of topics including: the nature of concepts and conceptual change representation, language, and discourse in conceptual change modeling, explanation, and argumentation in conceptual change metacognition and epistemology in conceptual change identity and conceptual change. Throughout this wide-ranging volume, the editors present researchers and practitioners with a more internally consistent picture of conceptual change by exploring convergence and complementarity across perspectives. By mapping features of an emerging paradigm, they challenge newcomers and established scholars alike to embrace a more programmatic orientation towards conceptual change.




Convergence and Diversity in the Governance of Higher Education


Book Description

This volume explores convergence and divergence in the governance of higher education systems from a global and comparative perspective.




Networked Learning: Perspectives and Issues


Book Description

Here, the authors' unique focus is on the key issues of networked learning. These include: policy issues, the costs of networked learning, staff development issues, and the student experience. With contributions from authors based in Europe and the US and Australia, it offers a global perspective which is designed to inform professional practice and its administration. It will be essential reading for practitioners and researchers in higher education and learning technology and will be of interest to policy-makers and managers in HE academic administration. It will also be relevant to learning technologists, support staff, as well as students and researchers in education and social science.




Transmedia Storytelling and the New Era of Media Convergence in Higher Education


Book Description

Stories, whether they are fact or fiction, popular or not, are a proven method of pedagogy. In the age of media convergence and with the advancement of technology, stories have morphed into new forms; however, their core purpose remains the same, which is to pass on knowledge and information. The internet, with its inherent interactivity, and story, with its inherent capacity to engage, can lead to innovative and transformative learning experiences in media-rich environments. This book focuses on web-based Transmedia Storytelling Edutainment (TmSE) as an andragogical practice in higher education. Story is at the forefront of this investigation because narrative is the basis for developing entertainment media franchise that can be incorporated into pedagogical practice. The propulsion of this analysis consists of practice-based research through narrative inquiry and an e-module case study presented on multimedia storytelling in the classroom. A Transmedia Storytelling Framework is provided for creating screenplays for cross-media projects and for analyzing their appropriateness in education. Additionally, a hypertext screenplay, which allowed students to dig deeper into the story word and to build more knowledge, is evaluated for its use in higher education. Since screenplays are by nature writing for the screen, it is believed that the more visual the input, the more likely it is to be memorized and recalled. A link to The Goddess Within screenplay is available for download on the right hand side of this page.




Designing, Constructing, and Programming Robots for Learning


Book Description

The field of robotics in a classroom context has seen an increase in global momentum recently because of its positive contributions in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and beyond. It is argued that when robotics and programming are integrated in developmentally appropriate ways, cognitive skill development beyond STEM can be achieved. The development of educational robotics has presented a plethora of ways in which students can be assisted in the classroom. Designing, Constructing, and Programming Robots for Learning highlights the importance of integrating robotics in educational practice and presents various ways for how it can be achieved. It further explains how 21st century skills and life skills can be developed through the hands-on experience of educational robotics. Covering topics such as computational thinking, social skill enhancement, and teacher training, this text is an essential resource for engineers, educational software developers, teachers, professors, instructors, researchers, faculty, leaders in educational fields, students, and academicians.




Times of Convergence. Technologies Across Learning Contexts


Book Description

The European Conference on Technology-Enhanced Learning (EC-TEL 2008) was the third event of a series that started in 2006. The two first editions were organized by Pro- Learn (http://www.prolearn-project.org/), a European Network of Excellence. In 2008, several members of Kaleidoscope, the other European Network of Excellence (http://www.noe-kaleidoscope.org/pub/), joined as co-chair, committee members, reviewers and authors. These two networks are no longer funded, but our aim was to turn EC-TEL into a sustainable series of high-quality events and thereby to contribute to the scientific landscape of technology-enhanced learning. A new network, named STELLAR, will be launched in 2009, with members from both existing networks as well as new members and will support the future editions of this conference. The scope of EC-TEL 2008 covered the different fields of learning technologies: e- cation, psychology, computer science. The contributions in this volume address the - sign of innovative environments, computational models and architectures, results of empirical studies on socio-cognitive processes, field studies regarding the use of te- nologies in context, collaborative processes, pedagogical scenarios, reusable learning objects and emerging objects, groups and communities, learning networks, interaction analysis, metadata, personalization, collaboration scripts, learning adaptation, collabo- tive environments, resources, tangible tools, as well as learning management systems.




Blended Learning: Convergence between Technology and Pedagogy


Book Description

This book focuses on essential aspects of the theoretical foundations that support blended learning (BL) as a teaching training modality in tertiary education. Analyzing the changes in the world of education that lead to new ways of thinking and learning, it redefines the concept of blended learning at a time of constant growth in many universities around the world. This involves a shared reflection on the role of technology in the current university teacher education programs, as well as on the role that pedagogy plays in increasingly technology-driven contexts. Furthermore, the book presents pedagogical approaches to guide university professors in the design and implementation of blended learning courses. To this end, it describes some of the major models and approaches to BL instructional design, and examines issues related to the quality of BL training and the indicators to measure it, in order to identify those models that contribute to a better understanding of the dimensions that increase its effectiveness.




Reform of Chinese Journalism Education Driven by Media Convergence


Book Description

This book explores the significant changes in Chinese journalism education in response to the rapid development of digital and new media technologies. It emphasizes the need for journalism education reform to keep pace with changing times and cultivate talents with an international outlook, innovative capabilities, and professional skills. It begins by exploring the concept of media convergence and its historical development, as well as the challenges and opportunities it presents for journalism and communication education. In particular, it explains how media convergence affects the demand for journalistic talent and changes the concept of journalism education in China. The author then presents practical examples of journalism education reform in China, including innovations in talent development models, curriculum reforms, and textbook improvements. A case study of reform practices in a top journalism school in China adds depth to the discussion of educational reform and core curriculum development. The author also discusses unresolved issues in journalism education reform, such as the scale of education, the positioning of talent cultivation, and the construction of faculty teams, and proposes solutions. The book will appeal to scholars and students of journalism education, journalism and new media, Chinese journalism, and Chinese studies.




The Convergence of Distance and Conventional Education


Book Description

This volume of essays from leading British, North American and Australasian contributors looks at the issues of the convergence of distance and conventional education. The term 'convergence' refers to the breaking down of barriers between open and distance learning and conventional institutions, and the creation of more and more institutions working across a range of modes. Such convergence has been driven by a number of factors, including the new technologies for teaching and learning, the impact of lifelong learning policies, the entry of larger than ever numbers of adult part-time students into tertiary education, and the demands of both employers and individuals for professional and work-related education throughout their working lives. The fourteen chapters engage critically with a range of aspects of convergence, including: * how well is open and distance learning carried out by conventional institutions for which it may continue for a lengthy period to be seen as of secondary importance? * to what extent will open and distance learning be more effectively carried out by conventional institutions able to offer a variety of modes to a wide range of learners? * how well will the variety of learners be served by systems that are converging? * what are the managerial issues at institutional level where converging systems are being developed?




Handbook of Research on Trends in European Higher Education Convergence


Book Description

With an increase in global competition among universities and national higher education systems, educational programs desire to offer compatible content without losing their competitive advantage. Because of this balance, the issue of convergence, along with its benefits and limits, has emerged. Handbook of Research on Trends in European Higher Education Convergence aims to identify the indicators that meet the consensus of the academic community and higher education management experts. Analyzing the recognized trends within the publication and concluding which measures should be taken to improve convergence pace and avoid potential pitfalls; this reference book is a useful resource for academics and students, as well as specialists, policy makers, and professionals connected with the educational sector.