The purpose of this roundtable discussion was to explore factors that influence the design of the initial discussion prompts in course-based, online learning. The initial prompt is one of the first pieces of scaffolding necessary for the knowledge construction requisite in a constructivist learning environment. As a means of stimulating conversation among conference participants, intersubjectiv...

The issue of teaching broad-based thinking processes, rather than more contentspecific skills, continues with the emphasis on the development of cognitive skills through the use of investigation, reflection and analysis, synthesis and evaluation to generate or refine knowledge. Such skills are more widely associated with the more complex (‘higher order’) learning strategies proposed by Bloom (1...

We describe a set of experiments investigating the role of natural language symbols in scaffolding situated action. Agents are evolved to respond appropriately to commands in order to perform simple tasks. We explore three different conditions, which show a significant advantage to the re-use of a public symbol system, through self-cueing leading to qualitative changes in performance. This is m...

Self-Regulated Learning increases the effectiveness of education and self-control has a high impact on the successful life generally. Cognitive biases heavily influence the decision making process, often against interests of those who make them. Therefore technological solutions that would support metacognitive scaffolding of learners may be very helpful. Our approach is based on Personal Learn...

This study examines the role played by Information Communication Technologies as cognitive tools in the classroom. We refer to the theoretical context considering creativity not only as the skill of fantasy and imagination but also as an educational process. In particular, in the exp eriences described, we highlight how creative thinking can be stimulated through the use of ICT integrated into ...

The widespread use of mobile devices, particularly by young people, offers new and exciting possibilities for learning. The mobility and pervasiveness factors inherent to mobile technologies allow learning at any time and in any place. This has led to some new developments in educational pedagogy based on the affordances that mobile technology brings to learning. “Mobile scaffolding” is a new r...

Learning technologies have undoubtedly changed instructional delivery particularly in higher education contexts. The scope of this article is to discuss how learning technologies can support and promote college student self-regulation in distributed and online learning environments and reexamine the role of the instructor in scaffolding the development of independent, self-regulated learners. A...

Background As the Final Report of the Language Education Review highlights, students’ low level of English proficiency seriously affects learning in Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions and hinders students’ potential to fully benefit from English-medium education. This problem is especially serious in self-funded degree programmes, as the students admitted onto these programmes very rarely have s...