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Introduction: This study aimed to develop a cost-effective suturing and knot typing simulator that aligns with the expectations of experts, addressing the need for affordable yet high-quality medical training tools. The focus was on assessing the efficacy of a silicone skin suture task trainer, created through a 3D printed mold, for use in mobile learning, specifically in rural and remote contexts. Methods: Rural and remote trainees participating in a skills acquisition workshop, engaged in a 90-minute suturing simulation station. They received minimal feedback from physician educators to simulate independent practice. After the practice, they completed a survey assessing the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator for the intended training purpose, as well as providing feedback for future improvements. Results: Results from quantitative data revealed the simulator's potential to develop competence (4.2 out of 5) and confidence (4.1 out of 5). Participants expressed a readiness to practice suturing independently using the simulator (4.3 out of 5). Notably, the realism of the simulator was identified as an area for improvement in terms of anatomical correctness (3.6 out of 5) and accuracy (3.4 out of 5), while durability scored high (4 out of 5). Participants found the simulator easy to use (4.4 out of 5) and well-suited for developing cognitive (4.4 out of 5) and psychomotor skills (4.2 out of 5) related to suturing and knot typing. Several improvements were noted, especially in the areas of anatomical representativeness, material selection, and interactions between the simulator and clinical tools. Conclusions: This paper outlines the acceptability and feasibility of the simulator, designed to complement an online learning management system for hands-on clinical skill learning within the mobile learning paradigm. Despite high self-efficacy and educational value scores, concerns about realism suggest a need for a hybrid design approach that balances costs and anatomical fidelity in simulator development. [For the full proceedings, see ED659933.]

Twenty-five papers presented at the conference include papers on the role of the site coordinator in a distributed education network in Ontario; student support systems in the Open University of Israel; the dilemmas of designing a computer mediated communication support system; interactive libraries; tutoring in technical science in the Open University of the Netherlands; research supervision at a distance; the role of tutoring and group support in distance education; the relationship between interaction and independence; distance education in India; applications of telecommunications for interactive tutoring; and cost effectiveness analysis of projects that increase student interaction in distance education. Most of the papers include references. The individual papers are briefly reviewed in the introduction, and continuity from papers presented at two earlier conferences is discussed. (GL)

This submission contains the Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG), held at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland. The CMESG is a group of mathematicians and mathematics educators who meet annually to discuss mathematics education issues at all levels of learning. The aims of the Study Group are: to advance education by organizing and coordinating national conferences and seminars to study and improve the theories of the study of mathematics or any other aspects of mathematics education in Canada at all levels; and to undertake research in mathematics education and to disseminate the results of this research. These proceedings include plenary lectures, working group reports, topic session descriptions, new PhD reports, and summaries of ad hoc and poster sessions. Papers include: (1) Pattern Composition: Beyond the Basics (Chris K. Palmer); (2) The Pair-Dialogue Approach in Mathematics Teacher Education (Pessia Tsamir and Dina Tirosh); (3) Mathematics Teaching and Climate Change (Richard Barwell, Stewart Craven, and David Lidstone); (4) Meaningful Procedural Knowledge in Mathematics Learning (Wes Maciejewski, Joyce Mgombelo, and Annie Savard); (5) Emergent Methods for Mathematics Education Research: Using Data to Develop Theory / Méthodes émergentes pour les recherches en didactique des mathématiques : Partir des données pour développer des théories (Olive Chapman, Souleymane Barry, and P. Janelle McFeetors); (6) Using Simulation to Develop Students' Mathematical Competencies--Post Secondary and Teacher Education (Eric Muller, Jean-Philippe Villeneuve, and Philippe Etchecopar); (7) Making Art, Doing Mathematics / Créer de l'art; faire des maths (Eva Knoll and Tara Taylor); (8) Selecting Tasks for Prospective Teachers in Mathematics Education (Marie-Pier Morin, Christian Bernèche, and Ralph Mason); (9) How to Prepare a Public Lecture? First Questions, Then Execution??? (Yvan Saint-Aubin); (10) Warm Hands Taking Cold Mathematics (David Wagner); (11) Opportunities to Learn IN and THROUGH Professional Development: An Analysis of Curriculum Materials (Jenny Sealy Badee); (12) Challenging Our Beliefs and Practices in Secondary Mathematics Education (Lorraine Baron); (13) Pattern Rules, Patterns and Graphs: Analyzing Grade 6 Students' Learning of Linear Functions Through the Processes of Webbing, Situated Abstractions, and Convergent Conceptual Change (Ruth Beatty); (14) Learning Mathematics for the Workplace: An Activity Theory Study of Pipe Trades Training (Lionel Lacroix); (15) Transforming Mathematics Education for Mi'kmaw Students through Mawikinutimatimk (Lisa Lunney Borden); (16) Coming to Know Mathematics: Views of Two Teacher Mathematicians (Veda Abu-Bakare); (17) What Does 'Better' University Mathematics Instruction Look Like? (Mary Beisiegel and Asia Matthews); (18) Exploring Variability in a Dynamic Computer-Based Environment (George Ekol); (19) Virtual Mathematics Marathon: A Mathematical Game For All Children (Margo Kondratieva and Viktor Freiman); (20) Early Childhood Mathematics Education (Donna Kotsopolous and Joanne Lee); (21) The Challenges of Mathematics In-Service (Susan Oesterle); (22) High School Mathematics Students' Trajectories: Tracking or Differentiating for Success? (Ralph T. Mason and P. Janelle McFeetors). Appended are: (1) Working Groups at Each Annual Meeting; (2) Plenary Lectures at Each Annual Meeting; and (3) Proceedings of Annual Meetings. Appendixes contain: (1) Working Groups at Each Annual Meeting; (2) Plenary Lectures at Each Annual Meeting; and (3) Proceedings of Annual Meetings. Individual papers contain references, tables, and figures. [For the 2010 proceedings, see ED529564.]

This mixed-methods one-shot study examines L2 writers' perceptions of using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) to write using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), based on three criteria: usefulness, ease of use, and intention to use. After receiving training on Google voice typing in Google Docs, 17 English as a Second Language (ESL) students carried out two ASR-based writing tasks over a two-hour period. After the treatment, participants filled in a TAM-informed survey and participated in semi-structured interviews to measure their perceptions based on the target criteria. Findings indicate positive perceptions of ASR as a writing tool in terms of usefulness (language learning potential) and ease of use (e.g. user-friendly voice commands). We believe that these positive perceptions might lead to an intention to continue to use ASR, suggesting that the technology has L2 pedagogical potential. [For the complete volume, "CALL and Professionalisation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2021 (29th, Online, August 26-27, 2021)," see ED616972.]

This case study features pedagogical strategies that were used in the context of a mobile app for learning to encourage relevant engagement and participation. For 20 weeks, a group of 18 piano students, ages 10 through 15, used a mobile app known as PracticeCactus. This self-contained social media platform allowed young participants to create and post audio recordings of their piano practice to share with their peers, which could then be 'liked' and commented on. Giving the mobile app to music learners without any direction at first, to provide them with freedom to engage with the app as they chose, resulted in limited engagement, due to individualism and a performance-based mindset. To encourage participatory engagement with the app, four pedagogical strategies were enacted, including: a) inviting students to take on the identity of 'content creator;' b) celebrating process over product; c) initiating goal-setting projects; and d) scaffolded instruction. These strategies resulted in the students using the app more frequently, but more importantly, fostered a different type of engagement, i.e., new opportunities for musical thinking and learning. Teachers who want to foster participatory engagement in music learning may benefit from this discussion of pedagogical strategies in the context of a mobile app. [For the full proceedings, see ED639391.]

Distance higher education for adults, media selection, and country profiles are considered in conference papers. Titles and authors are as follows: "Distance Education, Trends Worldwide" (Lord Perry of Walton); "Adults in Higher Education: Lowering the Barriers by Teaching and Learning at a Distance" (Hans G. Schutze); "Distance Education for Adults: Old and New Barriers for Participation" (Kjell Rubenson); "Distance Education for Adult Students: From Old to New Barriers for Participation?" (Ger van Enckevort); "Distance Education in OECD Member Countries"; "The Open University of the Netherlands"; "Background and Objectives" (Pierre Morin); "Basic Concepts" (Henk de Wolf); "The First Students" (G. van Enckevort); "The Open University of the United Kingdom" (Keith Harry); "The German Distance University: Its Main Features and Functions" (Jorn Bartels, Otto Peters); "The Instituto Portugues de Ensino a Distancia, Portugal" (Armando Rocha Trindade); "The Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Spain" (Doina Popa-Lisseanu); "Distance Education in Yugoslavia" (Ana Kranjc); "Towards a Contextual Rationale in Distance Higher Education: The Small Scale Cases of Australia and Sweden" (Urban Dahllof); "Adult Learning and the Consequences for the Selection of Media: The Japanese Approach" (Yoshiya Abe); "Technology-Based Distance Education for Adults in the United States of America" (Marilyn Kressel); "Distance Education, a Critical View from Canada" (Ian Morrison); "The Impact on Higher Education of New Information and Telecommunication Technologies" (Pamela Christoffel); "Selection of Media at the Dutch Open University" (G. van Enckevort, Freek Gastkemper)"; "Development of Computer-Based Learning Materials" (Jef Moonen); and "Computer Communication: A New Tool for Distance Education" (Norman D. Kurland). (SW)

This collection includes 16 conference papers and presentations and brief descriptions of 35 workshops and demonstrations. The document contains the following papers: (1) "Visual Literacy in the Elementary Grades" (David J. Bieman); (2) "Inservice Training for Sheridan's Audio Visual Staff" (Dave MacDougall); (3) "Auditorium Performance Criteria," with 16 charts and diagrams (Alan J. Powell), (4) "Do the 'Computer in the Classroom' Courses Change Teachers to Do a Better Job in the Classroom?" (Ray H. Topp); (5) "The State of the Art in the Use of Microcomputers in Elementary Education 1984" (Ray H. Topp); (6) "Robotics, Computers, Automation & You!" (Donald E. Coulman); (7) "Control Strategies and Image Placement Conditions in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Unit" (Robert M. Bernard and Claude Pineault); (8) "Naturalistic Evaluation in Action" (Mary F. Kennedy); (9) "Educational Media and Technology as a Social Inquiry: Teaching Instructional Communication as Social Science" (Stuart A. Selby); (10) "Introduction to the Production Process"; (11) "Television: A Distorted View" (Patricia A. Dolan Lewis, Richard F. Lewis); (12) "Educational Technology: Art or Science?" (Denis Hlynka); (13) "Duet: From a Pilot to a Reality"; (14) "The Role of Television in the Lives of Gifted Students" (D. J. Engel); (15) "Television Stereotypes as Role Models for North American Youth" (Nan-MacLeod-Engel); and (16) "The Brain and Educational Technology" (James J. La Follette). (LMM)

Our study assessed the performance of two Grammar Checkers (GCs), Grammarly and Virtual Writing Tutor, and the grammar checking function in Microsoft Word on a broad range of grammatical errors. The errors occurred in both authentic English as a Second Language (ESL) compositions and simple sentences we generated ourselves. We verified the performance in terms of (1) coverage (rates of error detection), (2) accuracy of proposed replacement forms, and (3) 'false alarms' (forms mistakenly flagged as incorrect). To the extent GCs provide accurate and comprehensive corrective feedback, they could relieve teachers of the time-consuming task of providing written feedback themselves. While inaccurate replacement forms and false alarms are relatively rare, we found GCs to have poor overall coverage (total error detection rates under 50%). Grammarly and Virtual Writing Tutor, however, outperform Microsoft Word. Coverage is also higher both for certain categories of error and for the sentences rather than the authentic compositions. Finally, although GCs do not provide comprehensive feedback, we suggest designing special activities that target select error types. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED590612.]

This study examines the development of oral fluency in a Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) environment that uses a "shouting" digital game as a pedagogical tool: Spaceteam ESL4. Spaceteam ESL is a game for mobile devices that involves time-sensitive aural exchanges among players (English learners), with great potential to promote fluency development (via speed) in a non-threatening environment (mediated by the game, a CMC tool). 20 high-beginner/low-intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) learners participated in the study, divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 11), which played the game for 15 minutes as a warm-up in class for a period of six weeks, and the control group (n = 9), which was engaged in "traditional" classroom activities such as info gap, story retelling, and other interactive activities for the same period of time. The study followed a mixed-methods design with pre-, post-, and delayed post-tests to measure developments in oral fluency (measured via the computation of number of syllables per second). The results suggest that mobile games such as Spaceteam ESL have the potential to assist in fluency development, but further investigation is needed. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.]

Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesizers have piqued the interest of researchers for their potential to enhance the L2 acquisition of writing (Kirstein, 2006), vocabulary and reading (Proctor, Dalton, & Grisham, 2007) and pronunciation (Cardoso, Collins, & White, 2012; Soler-Urzua, 2011). Despite their proven effectiveness, there is a need for up-to-date formal evaluations of TTS systems. The present study was an attempt to evaluate the language learning potential of an up-to-date TTS system at two levels: (1) speech quality (comprehensibility, naturalness, accuracy, and intelligibility) and (2) focus on a linguistic form (via a feature identification task). For Task 1, participants listened to and rated human- and TTS-produced stories and sentences on a 6-point scale (1); for Task 2, they listened to 16 human- and TTS-produced sentences to identify the presence of a target feature (English regular past -ed). Results of paired samples t-tests indicated that for speech quality, the human samples earned higher ratings than the TTS samples. For the second task (past -ed perception), the TTS and human-produced samples were equivalent. The discussion of the findings will highlight how TTS can be used to complement and enhance the teaching of L2 pronunciation and other linguistic skills both inside and outside the classroom. [For full proceedings, see ED564162.]

For the first time, the annual conference of the European Association for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL) took place in Sweden. The conference took place at the Faculty of Education on historic ground on the old fortification walls of Carolus Dux from the 17th century right in the centre of the city. This year's host comprised the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology. The local committee members represented three collaborating institutions: "Faculty of Education, the University of Gothenburg"; "Department of Languages and Literatures, the University of Gothenburg"; and "Division for Language and Communication, Chalmers University of Technology." This year's conference theme was "CALL: using, learning, knowing." The conference seeked to establish the current state of the art, how using technologies shape what and how we learn, and what we consider we know from research and development within CALL. These three dimensions are in a continuous fux and interplay as an upward spiral, contributing together to create a dynamic learning experience for the student. There were presentations presented at the conference. 59 of these were submitted as extended papers and appear in this volume of proceedings. An author index is included. (Individual papers contain references.)

This document contains the second volume of the proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Conference presentations are centered around the theme "Mathematics at the Centre." This volume features 60 research reports by presenters with last names beginning between Abr and Dri: (1) The Odds of Understanding the Law of Large Numbers: A Design for Grounding Intuitive Probability in Combinatorial Analysis (Dor Abrahamson and Rose M. Cendak); (2) Imaginary-Symbolic Relations, Pedagogic Resources and the Constitution of Mathematics for Teaching in In-Service Mathematics Teacher Education (Jill Adler and Zain Davis); (3) Relationship between Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers' Teaching and Learning Beliefs and Their Practices (Hatice Akkoc and Feral Ogan-Bekiroglu); (4) Teachers' Awareness of Dimensions of Variation: A Mathematics Intervention Project (Thabit Al-Murani); (5) The Student Teacher and the Others: Multimembership on the Process of Introducing Technology in the Classroom (Nelia Amado and Susana Carreira); (6) Improving Student Teachers' Understanding of Fractions (Solange Amorim Amato); (7) Autodidactic Learning of Probabilistic Concepts through Games (Miriam Amit and Irma Jan); (8) Graduate Students' Processes in Generating Examples of Mathematical Objects (Samuele Antonini); (9) Reasoning in an Absurd World: Difficulties with Proof by Contradiction (Samuele Antonini and Maria Alessandra Mariotti); (10) Will Penelope Choose Another Bridegroom? Looking for an Answer through Signs (Ferdinando Arzarello, Luciana Bazzini, Francesca Ferrara, Ornella Robutti, Cristina Sabena, and Bruna Villa); (11) Motivation and Perceptions of Classroom Culture in Mathematics of Students across Grades 5 to 7 (Chryso Athanasiou and George N. Philippou); (12) Deductive Reasoning: Different Conceptions and Approaches (Michal Ayalon and Ruhama Even); (13) The Tendency to Use Intuitive Rules among Students with Different Piagetian Cognitive Levels (Reuven Babai); (14) Coming to Appreciate the Pedagogical Uses of CAS (Lynda Ball and Kaye Stacey); (15) Students' Conceptions of "m" and "c": How to Tune a Linear Function (Caroline Bardini and Kaye Stacey); (16) A Contradiction between Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Teaching Indications (Ibrahim Bayazit and Eddie Gray); (17) Identifying and Supporting Mathematical Conjectures through the Use of Dynamic Software (David Benitez Mojica and Manuel Santos Trigo); (18) Students Constructing Representations for Outcomes of Experiments (Palma Benko and Carolyn A. Maher); (19) Logarithms: Snapshots from Two Tasks (Tanya Berezovski and Rina Zazkis); (20) Trying to Reach the Limit--The Role of Algebra in Mathematical Reasoning (Christer Bergsten); (21) Semiotic Sequence Analysis--Constructing Epistemic Types Empirically (Angelika Bikner-Ahsbahs); (22) Service Teaching: Mathematical Education of Students of Client Departments (Erhan Bingolbali, John Monaghan, and Tom Roper); (23) Students' Thinking about the Tangent Line (Irene Biza, Constantinos Christou, and Theodossios Zachariades); (24) Habermas' Theory of Rationality as a Comprehensive Frame for Conjecturing and Proving in School (Paulo Boero); (25) Extending Students' Understanding of Decimal Numbers via Realistic Mathematical Modeling and Problem Posing (Cinzia Bonotto); (26) Different Media, Different Types of Collective Work in Online Continuing Teacher Education: Would You Pass the Pen, Please? (Marcelo C. Borba and Rubia B. A. Zulatto); (27) Reformulating "Mathematical Modelling" in the Framework of the Anthropological Theory of Didactics (Marianna Bosch, Fco. Javier Garcia, Josep Gascon, and Luisa Ruiz Higueras); (28) Students' Impressions of the Value of Games for the Learning of Mathematics (Leicha A. Bragg); (29) The Transition from Arithmetic to Algebra: To Reason, Explain, Argue, Generalize and Justify (Trygve Breiteig and Barbro Grevholm); (30) Resisting Reform Pedagogy: Teacher and Learner Contributions (Karin Brodie); (31) Manifestations of Affordances of a Technology-Rich Teaching and Learning Environment (TRTLE) (Jill P. Brown); (32) Types of Representations of the Number Line in Textbooks (Alicia Bruno and Noemi Cabrera); (33) Educational Neuroscience: New Horizons for Research in Mathematics Education (Stephen R. Campbell); (34) Variability in a Probability Context: Developing Pre-Service Teachers' Understanding (Daniel L. Canada); (35) Implementing a Reform-Oriented Mathematics Syllabus: A Survey of Secondary Teachers (Michael Cavanagh); (36) Student's Modelling with a Lattice of Conceptions in the Domain of Linear Equations and Inequations (Hamid Chaachoua, Marilena Bittar, and Jean-Francois Nicaud); (37) Using Reading and Coloring to Enhance Incomplete Prover's Performance in Geometry Proof (Ying-Hao Cheng and Fou-Lai Lin); (38) Aspects of Teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Decimals (Helen Chick, Monica Baker, Thuy Pham, and Hui Cheng); (39) Collaborative Action Research on Implementing Inquiry-Based Instruction in an Eighth Grade Mathematics Class: An Alternative Mode for Mathematics Teacher Professional Development (Erh-Tsung Chin, Yung-Chi Lin, Yann-Tyng Ko, Chi-Tung Chien, and Hsiao-Lin Tuan); (40) Routine and Novel Mathematical Solutions: Central-Cognitive or Peripheral-Affective Participation in Mathematics Learning (Mei-Shiu Chiu); (41) The Role of Self-Generated Problem Posing in Mathematics Exploration (Victor V. Cifarelli and Jinfa Cai); (42) A Longitudinal Study of Children's Mental Computation Strategies (Barbara Clarke, Doug M. Clarke, and Marj Horne); (43) Assessing Fraction Understanding Using Task-Based Interviews (Doug M. Clarke, Michal Sukenik, Anne Roche, and Annie Mitchell); (44) Evaluation of a Teaching Concept for the Development of Problem Solving Competences in Connection with Self-Regulation (Christina Collet and Regina Bruder); (45) Developing Probability Thinking in Primary School: A Case Study on the Constructive Role of Natural Language in Classroom Discussions (Valeria Consogno, Teresa Gazzolo, and Paulo Boero); (46) Collaboration with Teachers to Improve Mathematics Learning: Pedagogy at Three Levels (Tom J. Cooper, Annette R. Baturo, and Edlyn J. Grant); (47) "Aim High--Beat Yourself": Effective Mathematics Teaching in a Remote Indigenous Community (Tom J. Cooper, Annette R. Baturo, Elizabeth Warren, and Edlyn J. Grant); (48) Development of Children's Understanding of Length, Area, and Volume Measurement Principles (Margaret Curry, Michael Mitchelmore, and Lynne Outhred; (49) Mathematics-for-Teaching: The Cases of Multiplication and Division (Brent Davis, Elaine Simmt, and Dennis Sumara); (50) Generative Concept Images (Gary E. Davis and Catherine A. Pearn); (51) Developmental Assessment of Data Handling Performance Age 7-14 (Pauline Davis, Maria Pampaka, Julian Williams, and Lawrence Wo); (52) The Effect of Different Teaching Tools in Overcoming the Impact of the Intuitive Rules (Eleni Deliyianni, Eleni Michael, and Demetra Pitta-Pantazi); (53) Investigating Social and Individual Aspects in Teacher's Approaches to Problem Solving (Fien Depaepe, Erik De Corte, and Lieven Verschaffel); (54) Maths Avoidance and the Choice of University (Pietro Di Martino and Francesca Morselli); (55) Primary Students' Reasoning about Diagrams: The Building Blocks of Matrix Knowledge (Carmel M. Diezmann); (56) Integrating Errors into Developmental Assessment: "Time" for Ages 8-13 (Brian Doig, Julian Williams, Lawrence Wo, and Maria Pampaka); (57) Vygotsky's Everyday Concepts/Scientific Concepts Dialectics in School Context: A Case Study (Nadia Douek); (58) Creating Mathematical Models with Structures (Katherine Doyle); (59) Mechanisms for Consolidating Knowledge Constructs (Tommy Dreyfus, Nurit Hadas, Rina Hershkowitz, and Baruch Schwarz); and (60) Reconciling Factorizations Made with CAS and with Paper-and-Pencil: The Power of Confronting Two Media (Paul Drijvers, Carolyn Kieran, Andre Boileau, Fernando Hitt, Denis Tanguay, Luis Saldanha, and Jose Guzman). (Individual papers contain references.)