Educational Informatics

Gregory Aist

Introduction to Informatics

CPI 101

about myselfabout myself

• natural language processing• computer-assisted learning

• Artificial intelligence• Cognitive Science

• Reading and writing• Astronaut and pilot training

• natural language processing• computer-assisted learning

• Artificial intelligence• Cognitive Science

• Reading and writing• Astronaut and pilot training

educational informatics

intersection

educational informatics

intersection• Learning, information, and technology

• Learning ~= human learning• Information ~= digital media• Technology ~= computer technology

• Learning, information, and technology

• Learning ~= human learning• Information ~= digital media• Technology ~= computer technology

a field by any other name…

a field by any other name…

• Related fields • Intelligent tutoring systems• Computer-assisted learning• Educational technology• Artificial intelligence in education

• Computer-based training

• Related fields • Intelligent tutoring systems• Computer-assisted learning• Educational technology• Artificial intelligence in education

• Computer-based training

learninglearning

• Nearly every kind of learning goalcould be the aim of an educational informatics project

• Examples includereading, writing, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus,programming, diagnosis and repair,steering large ships, etc.

• Nearly every kind of learning goalcould be the aim of an educational informatics project

• Examples includereading, writing, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus,programming, diagnosis and repair,steering large ships, etc.

informationinformation

• Nearly every kind of information can be adapted to instructional delivery

• Examples include• text, drawings, photographs,• online documents, wikis, email, SMS,• simulation environments, virtual reality,mixed reality

• Nearly every kind of information can be adapted to instructional delivery

• Examples include• text, drawings, photographs,• online documents, wikis, email, SMS,• simulation environments, virtual reality,mixed reality

technologytechnology

• Nearly every kind of technologycan be adapted to (try to) help people learn

• Including wide range from in-your-hand to you’re-in-its-hand:phones, laptops, desktops, online networks, full-motion simulators

• Nearly every kind of technologycan be adapted to (try to) help people learn

• Including wide range from in-your-hand to you’re-in-its-hand:phones, laptops, desktops, online networks, full-motion simulators

social settingsocial setting

• Social setting varies widelyeveryday situations,informal venues such as museums,formal settings such as universities,on-the-job training and mentoring

• Social setting varies widelyeveryday situations,informal venues such as museums,formal settings such as universities,on-the-job training and mentoring

godzilla vs. the matrix

godzilla vs. the matrix

• We want a conceptual frameworkin which to explore educational informatics

• Obviously we can’t easily visualize a gigantic four-dimensional table

• So I’ve chosen two dimensions(somewhat arbitrarily)and have selected applications

• We want a conceptual frameworkin which to explore educational informatics

• Obviously we can’t easily visualize a gigantic four-dimensional table

• So I’ve chosen two dimensions(somewhat arbitrarily)and have selected applications

learning in various contexts

learning in various contexts

Everyday Informal

Formal On-the-job

Literacy basic skills

ESL

Mathematics

check please

symmetry

algebra

Engineering

manuals design

Science museum physics

Maintenance

games troubleshooting

Operations

assembly shiphandling

for each entryfor each entry

• One slide with metadata• One with detail and pictures• Examples are illustrative, not comprehensive; often there’s earlier or similar work as well

• Most projects involve lots of people(sometimes too many to list) so here only the location/institution is given

• One slide with metadata• One with detail and pictures• Examples are illustrative, not comprehensive; often there’s earlier or similar work as well

• Most projects involve lots of people(sometimes too many to list) so here only the location/institution is given

metadata: row/columnmetadata: row/column

• Type of application• Short description• Name of example• Who/Where researched and developed

• Example location/situation/learners

• Type of application• Short description• Name of example• Who/Where researched and developed

• Example location/situation/learners

literacy/everydayliteracy/everyday

• Talking books• Student interacts with device that can speak words out loud

• Example: LeapPad ®• R&D: LeapFrog (www.leapfrog.com)

• Talking books• Student interacts with device that can speak words out loud

• Example: LeapPad ®• R&D: LeapFrog (www.leapfrog.com)

literacy/everydayliteracy/everyday

• book goesin holder

• touch pento paperin order to hear word said

• book goesin holder

• touch pento paperin order to hear word said

literacy/informalliteracy/informal

• Language learning software• Various exercises and formats:pronunciation, reading, writing, etc.

• Example: The Rosetta Stone used in learning centers byEast Texas Literacy Council

• Language learning software• Various exercises and formats:pronunciation, reading, writing, etc.

• Example: The Rosetta Stone used in learning centers byEast Texas Literacy Council

literacy/informalliteracy/informal

(Snowden 2000)

mathematics/everydaymathematics/everyday• Hasn’t been done (as far as I can tell) but perhaps should: splitting the check

• Q: You order the steak for $24.99. How much should you pay?

• A: $24.99 plus tax plus tip. (the exact amount of the tip varies!)

• Model-based diagnosisA = 30 = 25 * 1.20 (you forgot tax) A = 27 ~= 25 * 1.07 (you forgot tip)

• Hasn’t been done (as far as I can tell) but perhaps should: splitting the check

• Q: You order the steak for $24.99. How much should you pay?

• A: $24.99 plus tax plus tip. (the exact amount of the tip varies!)

• Model-based diagnosisA = 30 = 25 * 1.20 (you forgot tax) A = 27 ~= 25 * 1.07 (you forgot tip)

mathematics/informalmathematics/informal

• symmetry• student explores symmetry of molecules(this is math + chemistry)

• Example: Online tutorialhttp://symmetry.otterbein.edu/

• symmetry• student explores symmetry of molecules(this is math + chemistry)

• Example: Online tutorialhttp://symmetry.otterbein.edu/

mathematics/informalmathematics/informal

mathematics/formalmathematics/formal

• Mathematics tutor• Software guides student through problem solving, offers assistance

• Example: Cognitive Tutors• R&D: Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Learning

• Specific example:Middle and high school math

• Mathematics tutor• Software guides student through problem solving, offers assistance

• Example: Cognitive Tutors• R&D: Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Learning

• Specific example:Middle and high school math

mathematics/formalmathematics/formal

• tracks progress through math problem

• supports multiple representations

• identifies errors• diagnoses reason• offers assistance

• tracks progress through math problem

• supports multiple representations

• identifies errors• diagnoses reason• offers assistance

engineering/informalengineering/informal

• manuals• Paper, disk/CD, online, etc. • Sometimes pretty dry, sometimes not

• manuals• Paper, disk/CD, online, etc. • Sometimes pretty dry, sometimes not

engineering/informalengineering/informal

engineering/informalengineering/informal

engineering/formalengineering/formal

• Tutorial dialogue for engineering design

• Engages students in dialogue about design choices for thermodynamics

• CycleTalk• Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern,US Naval Academy

• Tutorial dialogue for engineering design

• Engages students in dialogue about design choices for thermodynamics

• CycleTalk• Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern,US Naval Academy

engineering/formalengineering/formal

• CycleTalk built on top of CyclePadsimulation:construct,analyze,discussthermo-dynamiccycles

• CycleTalk built on top of CyclePadsimulation:construct,analyze,discussthermo-dynamiccycles

science/informalscience/informal

• Museum tour guide• Robot guides visitor around museum

• Example: CiceRobot• R&D by: University of Palermo• Site: Archaeological Museum of Agrigento, Italy

• Museum tour guide• Robot guides visitor around museum

• Example: CiceRobot• R&D by: University of Palermo• Site: Archaeological Museum of Agrigento, Italy

science/informalscience/informal

• guide visitor on prearranged pathor, interact with visitor, build custom tour

• guide visitor on prearranged pathor, interact with visitor, build custom tour

science/formalscience/formal

• Physics• Student engages in physics problem solving and discussion with computer tutor

• Example: Andes• R&D: University of Pittsburghand the US Naval Academy

• Physics• Student engages in physics problem solving and discussion with computer tutor

• Example: Andes• R&D: University of Pittsburghand the US Naval Academy

science/formalscience/formal

maintenance/everydaymaintenance/everyday

maintenance/on-the-jobmaintenance/on-the-job

• Troubleshooting• Example: F-16 Maintenance Skills Tutor

• Troubleshooting• Example: F-16 Maintenance Skills Tutor

maintenance/on-the-jobmaintenance/on-the-job• “The F-16 Maintenance Skills Tutor simulates the experience of on-the-job training including running tests, moving switches, replacing components, taking measurements, and asking an expert for help. This is done by giving the student realistic guided simulations of real-life problem situations using software models and high resolution graphics backed by an expert system that knows how to troubleshoot.”http://www.mitre.org/ news/the_edge/march_99/second.html

• “The F-16 Maintenance Skills Tutor simulates the experience of on-the-job training including running tests, moving switches, replacing components, taking measurements, and asking an expert for help. This is done by giving the student realistic guided simulations of real-life problem situations using software models and high resolution graphics backed by an expert system that knows how to troubleshoot.”http://www.mitre.org/ news/the_edge/march_99/second.html

operations/everydayoperations/everyday

• Sudoku (prototype)• Student interacts with softwarewhich illustratesand explains strategies

• R&D: University of Waterloo

• Sudoku (prototype)• Student interacts with softwarewhich illustratesand explains strategies

• R&D: University of Waterloo

operations/everydayoperations/everyday

operations/everydayoperations/everyday

operations/on-the-joboperations/on-the-job

• Conning Officer Virtual Environment(COVE)

• Shiphandling tutor• Virtual environment provides practice & feedback for maneuvering large ships by giving spoken instructions

• US Navy

• Conning Officer Virtual Environment(COVE)

• Shiphandling tutor• Virtual environment provides practice & feedback for maneuvering large ships by giving spoken instructions

• US Navy

operations/on-the-joboperations/on-the-job

• Example: underway replenishment

• Example: underway replenishment

beyond the matrixbeyond the matrix

• Today we’ve covered technology that interacts directly with learners

• There’s plenty of other opportunities to apply informatics to education

• Automated essay scoring grades exams• Course management software does just that

• Presentation software as in this talk

• Today we’ve covered technology that interacts directly with learners

• There’s plenty of other opportunities to apply informatics to education

• Automated essay scoring grades exams• Course management software does just that

• Presentation software as in this talk