James A. White

Expert behavior in children's video game play

This study investigated the display of “expert” behavior by outstanding video game–playing children. Seven highly proficient, video game–playing, 10-and 11-year-old children were observed in the act of teaching adult “foils” how to play one of two popular home video games. The children were also debriefed after the teaching sessions. Observation and debriefing transcripts were then analyzed for evidence of expert behaviors such as self-monitoring, pattern recognition, principled decision making, qualitative thinking, and superior memory. The findings indicate that outstanding video game–playing children frequently display the characteristics of experts as they are displayed in other domains. Differences in levels of expertise also appear to be present along a continuum from novice to expert. Further study of video game processes may inform educators about the development of expert proficiencies in children.

Preservice Teacher Education: Innovative Applications of Interactive Television

ConclusionResponsible educators find the need for continual renewal. The rapid advance of technology requires teachers learn new strategies and techniques for the productive use of these tools. The projects described above provided preservice faculty, students, and inservice educators with opportunities to learn about new technologies and to explore innovative uses of the technology. Opportunities to utilize distance education systems, such as the Iowa Communications Network, are numerous throughout the entire teacher preparation process. Iowa teacher educators have the opportunity to prepare their students to be capable classroom teachers who have the knowledge and skills to facilitate learning in an array of educational environments.Responsible educators find the need for continual renewal. The rapid advance of technology requires teachers learn new strategies and techniques for the productive use of these tools. The projects described above provided preservice faculty, students, and inservice educators with opportunities to learn about new technologies and to explore innovative uses of the technology. Opportunities to utilize distance education systems, such as the Iowa Communications Network, are numerous throughout the entire teacher preparation process. Iowa teacher educators have the opportunity to prepare their students to be capable classroom teachers who have the knowledge and skills to facilitate learning in an array of educational environments.

Accessing ICLAS Network Log Data to Study Student Computer Usage, Course Performance, and Attitude Change

ABSTRACT This study demonstrated how network usage logs such as those generated by the IBM Classroom Local Area Network Administration System (ICLAS) can be used to study student use of software available on a local area network. Software instrumentation was developed to convert ICLAS log files to a format (∗.DIF) usable by spreadsheet and statistics software. Data on 163 students enrolled in an ‘Introduction to Computers in Education’ course during the Summer, 1992 session at the University of South Florida were compiled for exploratory analysis. Correlations of lab use time to course grade, change in knowledge, and change in attitude were performed. It was found that amount of lab use correlated significantly to general attitude toward computers, but that it did not correlate significantly to change in attitude toward school uses of computers or to change in knowledge of course topics.

Effects of Aptitude and Corrective Feedback on Performance in Computer-Directed Mathematics Instruction at the Memory and Interpretation Levels of Cognition

AbstractThis study investigated both main effects and interaction effects of the level of feedback in computer-directed instruction (CDI) and learner aptitude for mathematics over two different cognitive levels of task for mastery of mathematics. Each of 239 education undergraduates received one specific level of feedback while attempting to master tasks at one specific cognitive level. The dependent variables were (a) the number of trials required for the participant to respond correctly twice in succession and (b) time to completion. Results indicated no support for the assertion that level of feedback enabled learner performance at either level of cognition. These results held true across all ranges of learner aptitudes.