Computer Computer Assisted Assisted

Learning/MultimeLearning/Multimediadia

Jeff JamesEducational Development Unit,

PolyUX6290

etjJames@polyu.edu.hk

CALCAL

CMICMICALLCALL

CAICAI

CBICBI

CBTCBT

CALCAL

emphasis on learning

This This session:session:

Overview of computer assisted learning.

more more specifically:specifically:

I. types of CAL software,II. hypermedia/multimedia

environments,III. authoring languages,IV. design considerations,V. a critical view of

CAL/multimedia.

I. Types of CAL I. Types of CAL SoftwareSoftware

•drill and practice•games•simulations• tutorials• tools• (hypermedia)• (CMI software; e.g.. tests)

categorizing is difficult:

imagine a “space travel game” in a“hyper environment” with atutorial component.

• • drill and practicedrill and practice

Typically, drill and practiceactivities are supplementaryto the “normal” teaching process.

• • drill and practicedrill and practice

Drill and practice is good forfundamental mastery.

• • drill and practicedrill and practice

Can be thought of as a “flash card”system of the stimulus-responsemodel.

• • drill and practicedrill and practice

Speed is important for both presentation and feedback.

• randomness• record keeping

• • drill and practicedrill and practice

often incorporates:

• • gamesgames

Often CAL software is presentedin game format.

• • gamesgames

May include point scoring, andcan be individual or team format.

• • gamesgames

Have the potential for a verymotivational environment.

• • simulationssimulations

Can provide microworlds (e.g.,a world without friction orgravity).

• • simulationssimulationsThe University of Illinois hassuccessfully provided computer-driven “dry” chemistry labs.

simulations aresimulations are

•safe• inexpensive• fast•slow•clean•possible

• • tutorialstutorials

Self-paced, where the computeracts as an infinitely-patient,all-wise tutor.

Is this guy slow, or what??

Typically a good tutorial will have astructure(s) as follows:

give information test

giveinfo.. . .

remediate

OK

(needs help)

give information test

giveinfo.

remediate

OK

(needs help)

..

.

can be verycomplex

• • toolstools

Typically, application programswhich are being used by thestudent for learning.

spreadsheet programs statistics packages hypermedia software desktop publishing

software presentation software CAD software etc.

• examples of tools

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II. Hypermedia II. Hypermedia &Multimedia &Multimedia EnvironmentsEnvironments

hyper- pref. ‘over’, ‘above’, ‘too’...

eg. hypersensitive or hypertension

Ted Nelson described himself asbeing hyperactive.

hypermedia can be thought of as “chunks” of information (nodes),stored in a structure, and accessed by links (buttons).

• • hypertexthypertext

Textual information, structuredby use of links and nodes.

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

• • hypermediahypermedia

Like hypertext, but includingsound, video, and/or animation.

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

Here is some exampletext which is going tobe shrunk down to asize which is barelyrecognisable; good toobecause then my poorspelling won’t berecognised. Now, Ihave run out of exampletext. Oh well; so what?

• • multimediamultimedia

Involves more than one medium(>2 really, since most literaturecontains graphics and text).

• • multimediamultimedia

Involves the use of sound,animation, and/or videoas well as text and graphics.

Even Ted Nelson said he didn’tknow the difference betweenhypermedia and multimedia.

• • multimediamultimedia

11

11Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia Conference,June 1994, Vancouver. [Ted Nelson coined the term hypertext (“non-sequential writing”)].

• • multimediamultimedia

Computer-controlled multimediaallows the seamless integrationof media.

• • multimediamultimedia

Multimedia can provide asensory-rich learning environment.

• • multimediamultimedia

Interactive multimedia is theincorporation of multimedia withhuman-computer interaction.

• • multimediamultimedia

Interactive multimedia provides an obvious educational advantage over current broadcasting & publishing which is passive.

play speed movie

take a quiz

more information

WWW

tutorial

SpeedInformation regarding the concept of speed can appear as text here. I know very little about it myself, so perhaps a multimedia tutorial about it would help me. To learn about it, selectoptions below, some perhaps more than once..

Choose one option below:

play speed movie

take a quiz

more information

WWW

tutorial

SpeedInformation regarding the concept of speed can appear as text here. I know very little about it myself, so perhaps a multimedia tutorial about it would help me. To learn about it, selectoptions below, some perhaps more than once..

Choose one option below:

Metaphors abound.A computer screen ofinformation can be aslide, a page, a card,a node, whatever...

There are many possible “HyperDesigns”.

Linear

..... .....

There are many possible “HyperDesigns”.

Network

Possible applications of less complexdesigns include electronic books, andinformation/ training kiosks.

Hyperdesigns give the user opportunity for:

•more control, but• require careful planning and

analysis.

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III. Authoring III. Authoring LanguagesLanguages

Packages exist which allow the creation of CAL packages by non-computer programmers.

Authoring packages exist for avariety of platforms.

For example:

You can use HyperCard on aMacintosh to create stacks of cards.

You can use ToolBook on a PCto create a book (of pages).

You can run Authorware on Mac,PC, or UNIX environments (to createflow lines).

• Icon Author (Windows, UNIX)•Macromedia Director (all)•TenCore•cT

Examples of other software include:

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IV. Design IV. Design ConsiderationsConsiderations

• the design team and•user interface design

Two important points in designingCAL software are:

Typically, the design team cancirculate ideas on storyboards(hard copies of screen templates).

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Storyboards circulate amongdesign team members.

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contentexpert

graphicartist

cognitivescientist

programmer

•allow the user control•use visual cues•be consistent•design, don’t decorate

Some quick tips for User Interface Design

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V. A Critical ViewV. A Critical View

1. CAL is an inferior teaching medium.

a critical view:

2. Users can become disoriented and lost in hyper environments.

a critical view:

3. Too much attention is paid to appearance (esp. graphics) and not enough to educational issues.

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SummarySummary

1. There are many types of CAL software other than sequential point-and-click text.

Summary

2. hypermedia/multimedia environments offer great potential but require care in design.

Summary

3. Many authoring languages are available, allowing everyone programming potential.

Summary

4. Many important design issues need to be considered.

q