Ruth Wylie

The ICAP Framework: Linking Cognitive Engagement to Active Learning Outcomes.

This article describes the ICAP framework that defines cognitive engagement activities on the basis of students’ overt behaviors and proposes that engagement behaviors can be categorized and differentiated into one of four modes: Interactive, Constructive, Active, and Passive. The ICAP hypothesis predicts that as students become more engaged with the learning materials, from passive to active to constructive to interactive, their learning will increase. We suggest possible knowledge-change processes that support the ICAP hypothesis and address the limitations and caveats of the hypothesis. In addition, empirical validation for the hypothesis is provided by examining laboratory and classroom studies that focus on three specific engagement activities: note taking, concept mapping and self-explaining. We also consider how ICAP can be used as a tool for explaining discrepant findings, dictate the proper choice of a control condition, and evaluate students’ outputs. Finally, we briefly compare ICAP to existing theories of learning.

Comprehension SEEDING: Comprehension through Self Explanation, Enhanced Discussion, and INquiry Generation

In this paper we introduce the Comprehension SEEDING system and describe the system components designed to enhance classroom discussion by providing real-time formative feedback to teachers. Using SEEDING, teachers ask free-response questions. As students are constructing their responses using digital devices, SEEDING allows teachers to assess a student’s understanding. Once SEEDING collects student responses, the system automatically groups them based on semantic similarity. Teachers can use this information to address student misconceptions and engage the classroom from a more informed perspective. This paper describes the SEEDING system and how it can be used to aid teachers and improve classroom discussion.

Why Frankenstein is a Stigma Among Scientists

As one of the best known science narratives about the consequences of creating life, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) is an enduring tale that people know and understand with an almost instinctive familiarity. It has become a myth reflecting people’s ambivalent feelings about emerging science: they are curious about science, but they are also afraid of what science can do to them. In this essay, we argue that the Frankenstein myth has evolved into a stigma attached to scientists that focalizes the public’s as well as the scientific community’s negative reactions towards certain sciences and scientific practices. This stigma produces ambivalent reactions towards scientific artifacts and it leads to negative connotations because it implies that some sciences are dangerous and harmful. We argue that understanding the Frankenstein stigma can empower scientists by helping them revisit their own biases as well as responding effectively to people’s expectations for, and attitudes towards, scientists and scientific artifacts. Debunking the Frankenstein stigma could also allow scientists to reshape their professional identities so they can better show the public what ethical and moral values guide their research enterprises.

The Enduring Influence of a Dangerous Narrative: How Scientists Can Mitigate the Frankenstein Myth

Reflecting the dangers of irresponsible science and technology, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein quickly became a mythic story that still feels fresh and relevant in the twenty-first century. The unique framework of the Frankenstein myth has permeated the public discourse about science and knowledge, creating various misconceptions around and negative expectations for scientists and for scientific enterprises more generally. Using the Frankenstein myth as an imaginative tool, we interviewed twelve scientists to explore how this science narrative shapes their views and perceptions of science. Our results yielded two main conclusions. First, the Frankenstein myth may help scientists identify popular concerns about their work and offer a framework for constructing a more positive narrative. Second, finding optimistic science narratives may allow scientists to build a better relationship with the public. We argue that by showing the ethical principles and social dimensions of their work, scientists could replace a negative Frankenstein narrative with a more optimistic one.

What Matters in Concept Mapping? Maps Learners Create or How They Create Them

Generative strategies, where learners process the target content while connecting different concepts to build a knowledge network, has shown potential to improve student learning outcomes. While concept maps in particular have been linked to the development of generative strategies, few studies have explored structuring the concept mapping process to support generative strategies, and few studies offer intelligent support. In this work, we present a concept mapping tool that offers navigational support in the form of hyperlinks, where nodes in the concept map are linked to segments of text. We evaluate the effect of the hyperlinks on generative strategies and learning outcomes through a week-long high school study with 32 participants. Our results indicate that proper navigational and visual aid during concept mapping facilitates the development of generative strategies, with implications for learning outcomes. Based on these findings, we propose a constraint-based tutoring system to adaptively support the development of generative strategies in concept mapping.

Exploring Collaborative Storytelling as a Method for Creating Educational Games

Designing educational games that meet both learning and entertainment objectives is a challenging task. Games that begin by developing specific educational goals and are later wrapped in a game or narrative context risk appearing forced, while those that begin with gaming elements to which educational elements are added may appear superficial. In this paper, we describe the methodology and results from a three-day interdisciplinary hackathon for developing game narratives designed to address both needs. We present details regarding the hackathon, the collaborative teams, and an example of the outcomes produced.

Personalized Expert Skeleton Scaffolding in Concept Map Construction

Concept maps have been widely used in educational contexts to facilitate meaningful learning. Recent research has examined how concept mapping tools assist students in summarizing, relating, and organizing concepts. Our goal is to explore how personalized scaffolding can be applied to concept map construction. We provide personalized scaffolding in the form of an adaptive expert skeleton map based on student prior knowledge. We conducted a study comparing the adaptive map to a fixed map and to unscaffolded concept mapping. In an exploratory analysis, we examine the possible impacts of adaptive scaffolding on student learning processes.

Using log data to predict response behaviors in classroom discussions

The Comprehension Seeding system allows students to respond to an open-ended question using tablet computers; the system provides formative feedback to teachers to facilitate discussion and encourage students to engage in reflective behaviors. Data from a semester-long intervention suggested that few students engaged in this reflective process, leading us to question under what conditions the reflection process does or will occur. Using logistic regression, we investigated different ways the system was used, and what types of usage lead to desired, reflective behavior.