The Roles of the Computer in the Learning Community

We model the learning process as a set of semi-structured interactions between an instructor and a group of learners, among the learners, and between the learners and a body of knowledge. We propose to introduce the computer into the learning process as a mediator in time and space of such interactions. We will provide templates for such interactions in the form of directed graphs whose nodes contain learning experiences. Different learners will traverse these graphs in different ways according to their needs, roles, and abilities. We believe that this technique of modelling computer- mediated interactions will become a generalized technique, applicable in many areas. We will also model the conceptual space of the material being learned and provide a visualization of this space which will form a visual mnemonic for the learner. These models are based on learning object technologies for which open industry standards are now emerging and to which we will propose new extensions.

By: Colin Harrison and James Penny

Published in: RZ3420 in 2002

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