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Background: Writing is an important and complex skill, which could be enhanced by teaching students effective writing strategies such as outlining. Electronic outlining ‐ integrated feature in Microsoft® Word – has been shown to enhance students' writing performance. However, little is known about the optimal didactic approach for electronic outlining. Objective: This study examined the effects of learning to use electronic outlining either via observational learning or via learning‐by‐doing on students' argumentative writing performance. Methods: Students (N = 129, 10th‐grade) were assigned with their complete class to one of three conditions: a control (traditional pen and paper outlines via learning‐by‐doing), outline (electronic outlines via learning‐by‐doing) or observation (electronic outlines via observational learning) condition. Students followed an argumentative writing lesson‐series that differed across conditions in terms of planning strategies and didactic approaches used. To examine the influence of the different conditions on students' writing, argumentative texts were used as pre‐ and post‐tests, and the quality was evaluated with an analytic assessment protocol. In addition, data regarding students' perceived mental effort and the organisation of the writing process were collected. Finally, students' attitudes towards electronic outlining were assessed. Results and Conclusion: Although the overall text structure had improved after the lesson series, no significant differences were found between conditions. Electronic outlining increased the total amount of time dedicated to the texts as well as the revision ratio. Students in the observation condition showed a higher pause ratio and a lower fluency on the post‐test as compared to students who learned by doing (both control and outline conditions). With regard to perceived mental effort, students in the outline and control conditions perceived significant decreases over tasks, as opposed to those in the observation condition. In conclusion, the self‐reports indicate that students in the outline condition appropriated electronic outlining significantly better than those in the observation condition, suggesting that practice enhanced students' appropriation of electronic outlining. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Planning as a writing strategy helps students organise their writing and reduce mental effort.Electronic outlining is an effective and efficient tool to support a planning strategy.Observational learning is an effective didactic approach in writing education. What this paper adds: Traditional planning and electronic outlining via either observational learning or learning‐by‐doing affect writing products equally.Tool appropriation is greater for students who learned‐by‐doing. Implications for practice: Importance of elaborated and explicit (strategy) instruction.Advantage of video‐based modelling for teacher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop and validate an instrument measuring the perception and interpretation of several distinct musical features (pitch, tonality, timing, loudness, and timbre). Therefore, we developed the Implicit Tonal Ability Test (ITAT), a listening test containing 49 multiple-choice items. A total of 233 children aged 6 to 12 participated in this study. Rasch model-based analysis of dimensionality and differential item functioning was chosen as the principal analysis strategy. Results revealed that the ITAT discriminated between high and low performers. Responses to distinct musical features behaved as one Rasch dimension in the test and reliability measures were sufficient for persons and items. The ITATwas variable across age and gender, with a positive relation between age and ITAT-score. The ITAT can be reliably used in elementary education to measure children's musical ability for perception and interpretation of distinct musical features in just one test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop and validate an instrument measuring the perception and interpretation of several distinct musical features (pitch, tonality, timing, loudness, and timbre). Therefore, we developed the Implicit Tonal Ability Test (ITAT), a listening test containing 49 multiple-choice items. A total of 233 children aged 6 to 12 participated in this study. Rasch model-based analysis of dimensionality and differential item functioning was chosen as the principal analysis strategy. Results revealed that the ITAT discriminated between high and low performers. Responses to distinct musical features behaved as one Rasch dimension in the test and reliability measures were sufficient for persons and items. The ITATwas variable across age and gender, with a positive relation between age and ITAT-score. The ITAT can be reliably used in elementary education to measure children's musical ability for perception and interpretation of distinct musical features in just one test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fake news and disinformation are easily spread in today's digital society. Therefore, it is important that students learn how to evaluate the trustworthiness of online information, but this skill is often confined to a limited number of subjects in secondary education. History classes can potentially contribute to developing this skill. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between how Grade 9 students (N = 112) perform while evaluating the trustworthiness of historical sources and internet sources. Average student performance on both kinds of sources was similar, but the distribution of the scores was significantly different. There was a moderate correlation between students’ total scores on the historical task and the internet task. Two of the three criteria of trustworthiness that could be used on both kinds of sources were used by a great majority in both tasks. The second aim was to gain more insight into students’ (N = 8) and teachers’ perspectives (N = 8) on the usefulness of the evaluation skill learned in history class for other contexts, especially when searching on the internet. While most of the teachers mentioned the importance of the skill when using the internet, none of the students did so spontaneously. We suggest that history classrooms are an appropriate place to teach students not only about historical sources but also about internet sources, provided that more explicit attention is given to the relationship between both types of sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In complex cognitive domains such as air traffic control, professionals must be able to adapt to and act upon continuing changes in a highly advanced technological work environment. To function optimally in such an environment, the controllers must be able to regulate their learning. Although these regulation skills should be part of their training, this is not usually the case. This study evaluates a training program that integrates air traffic control skills with regulation skills. The participants were 29 air traffic control students who followed either the original training program (n = 12) or a new program (n = 17) in which the development of regulation skills was embedded in the training of domain specific skills. Compared to students in the original program, the students in the new program showed increased self-efficacy in the use of self-regulated learning skills with improved performance in domain specific competences. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to the daily training practice of complex cognitive skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure reliability and validity of the Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy (Van Helvoort, 2010).Design/methodology/approach Percentages of agreement and Intraclass Correlation were used to describe interrater reliability. For the determination of construct validity factor analysis and reliability analysis were used. Criterion validity was calculated with Pearson correlations.Findings In the described case, the Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of information literate performance.Originality/value Reliability and validity are prerequisites to recommend a rubric for application. The results confirm that this Scoring Rubric for Information Literacy can be used in courses in higher education, not only for assessment purposes but also to foster learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As hypertext learning environments (HLE) are widely used in education, it is important to study and know the effects and consequences of its use. HLEs are non-linear which means that students have to develop ways of navigating through them. Thus, developing interfaces that facilitate and even guide navigation is important for learning. Research showed that successful learning in HLEs depends on both learner characteristics and HLE features. This study investigated an HLE navigation feature (navigational support with either a tag-cloud or conventional hierarchical menu), task complexity (fact-finding vs. information-gathering task) and a user characteristic (gender). Results show that neither navigational support nor gender is associated with differences in task performance. However, there are differences in information processing. Participants using a tag clouds looked longer at the navigational support and shorter at the overview pages. Combined with fewer revisits of webpages in the tag cloud condition, this indicates a more focused selection of pages. The deeper processing of information needed for the information-gathering task was reflected in fewer visits to, but longer viewing times of pages. As no differences in task performance were found, tag clouds seem to be as effective for performance as more traditional navigation structures for navigational support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses to what extent and how electronic outlining enhances students' writing performance. To this end, the focus of this study is not only on students' final writing products but also on the organisation of the writing process (i.e., planning, translating, and reviewing) and perceived mental effort during writing. In addition, effects of repeated electronic outlining were examined. A combined within and between subjects design was implemented in which 93 10th-grade students wrote two argumentative texts with or without using electronic outlining. Analyses showed that using electronic outlining for planning and writing significantly improved the presentation of the argumentative structure. However, effects were less clear for correctly and completely establishing a text structure and no effects were found on the elaboration of students' argumentation. Process data showed that electronic outlining increased total process time, but no effect was found on students' overall planning and revision activities. Finally, self-reports showed no effect of electronic outlining on students' perceived mental effort. Nevertheless, repeated use of the same writing strategy enhanced writing fluency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Prior attitudes can bias how students process information in reading and writing tasks. [•] Students with strong prior attitudes tended to move away from source texts in their essays. [•] Students with strong prior attitudes took stances in their essays. [•] Students with neutral attitudes wrote essays with more synthesis and neutral conclusions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we explored associations between perception of musical features (pitch, tonality, timing, timbre, and loudness), vocal abilities (singing accuracy, melodic achievement, and rhythmic performance), and cognitive levels (reading accuracy and comprehension, grammar, and math) among children ages 6 to 12. Musical perception abilities were measured using the Implicit Tonal Ability Test. Vocal abilities were measured using the Vocal Musical Ability Test. Cognitive levels were measured using standardized Dutch performance tests on academic skills. We investigated which factors (age, gender, cognitive levels, school type, music perception abilities, and participation in music education) predict vocal abilities and how these abilities differed by age. Results showed that singing accuracy was best predicted by gender, math level, and music perception abilities. Melodic achievement was best predicted by age, school type, math level, and music perception abilities. Rhythmic performance was best predicted by age, instrumental music education, and music perception abilities. Regardless of their age, differences in singing abilities between children were large. We advise teachers to provide activities in which repetition and prediction of patterns, scales, all intervals, and intonation are practiced, including transposing melodies and repeating rhythmic patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Students' perspective on education is of crucial importance for its effectivity, but students' opinions are seldom acknowledged by teachers and designers. Student participation in the educational design process could be a suitable tool to better take students' preferences into account. However, for effective participatory design, it is necessary to know whether students have stable preferences for the design of their education. Changeability of preferences would require a more continuing design process allowing continuous adaptations. Aims. This longitudinal survey study aimed to determine the changeability over time of students' preferences for different aspects of a learning environment. Additionally, causes of possible changes in preferences are investigated. Sample. The participants were 1,335 high school students of five schools for secondary education in the Netherlands, joining this study during a period of 2 years. Method. Data about students' preferences were collected at three moments, using the Inventory of Perceived Study Environment Extended. Learning-related student characteristics, such as processing strategies and motivational orientations, were measured with the Inventory of Learning Styles. Additionally, data on learning performances were collected. Results. The results showed stability on preferences for almost all studied characteristics of the learning environment. Particularly remarkable was a drop in desirability for student autonomy. This was larger for students with a certificate-oriented motivation and smaller for self-regulated students. Additionally, poorly performing students had a larger decrease in preference for autonomy. Conclusions. The stability on most aspects supports that participatory design might result in fairly stable instructional designs, although caution is needed with respect to student autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The match between students' perceptions of a learning environment and their preferences about its design influences students' learning behaviour and by consequence the effectiveness of education. Therefore, the students' perspective deserves a more prominent place in the educational design process. Having an adequate picture of the match between students' perceptions and preferences is needed for teachers/educational designers to account for students' perspectives while designing education. As perception–preference match is likely to differ between students, establishing correlates to it would provide valuable information. Students' perceptions are known to relate to several student characteristics; this study extends our understanding to its relations with perception–preference match. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the degree to which students' perceptions of lessons match with their preferences about different characteristics of modern education. Additionally, it is aimed to determine the most prominent relationships between perception–preference match and learning-related student characteristics. Sample: The sample consisted of 1146 10th-grade high school students (mean age = 16 years) from five secondary schools in the Netherlands. As data collection took place during normal school hours, the response rate was 100%, comprising all students that were at school on the day of data collection. Design and methods: To measure students' perceptions of the lessons and their preferences about its instructional design, students completed the Inventory of Perceived Study Environment Extended, being composed of eight scales about central characteristics of modern education. The Inventory of Learning Styles was administered to measure learning-related student characteristics: cognitive processing strategies, regulation strategies, motivational orientations, conceptions about learning and affective processing strategies. To answer the research questions, paired t-tests and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results: Findings showed low perception–preference matches on fascinating contents, clarity of goals and student autonomy. Students preferred these characteristics being more represented in their lessons than they actually perceived them. Perception–preference match was predominantly related to students' motivation and affective state: a personally interested motivational orientation related to better perception–preference match, whereas motivation/concentration problems related to worse matches. These relations did not give indications about causality, but based on the literature a bidirectional relation is supposed. Conclusion: This study shows that students' perception–preference match gives clear indications for which aspects of lessons could be improved. As students consider almost all characteristics of modern education as desirable, meeting students' preferences could contribute to more effective education. Additionally, the perception–preference match relates to students' motivation and affective strategies. Improving education by accounting for the match between students' perceptions and preferences of education is likely to improve motivation as well as having a significant effect on the quality of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The focus of this special section is on the processes involved when solving information-based problems. Solving these problems requires from people that they are able to define the information problem, search and select usable and reliable sources and information and synthesise information into a coherent body of knowledge. An important aspect throughout the whole search process is the critical evaluation of sources and information. Evaluation processes are of particular importance when searching information on the Internet, because of the masses of information, and the open publication principle of the Internet. The articles in the present special section take different perspectives in studying the evaluation processes. Influencing factors such as students'' domain-specific prior knowledge, metatextual knowledge, and students'' epistemic beliefs are addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Workplace simulations (WPS), authentic learning environments at school, are increasingly used in vocational education. This article provides a theoretical analysis and synthesis of requirements considering learner skills, characteristics of the learning environment and the role of the teacher that influence good functioning in WPS and foster students' learning. WPS appeal to students' self-directed learning (SDL) and self-regulated learning (SRL) skills, as students are required to work and learn independently in these settings. To achieve individual learning, the environments should be adaptive to the learners' needs. Furthermore, the teachers should support learners to become competent in the domain but also guide them to become self-directed learners. To do so the interaction between the student, the teacher and the environment is of importance. The proposed model depicts the different elements and their relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transfer of complex cognitive skills is important when stimulating students to become life long learners. An example of a complex cognitive skill is the skill of evaluating results, information and source while solving information problems using the WWW. Especially the knowledge and use of evaluation criteria is crucial in this matter. Two educational programs to foster this skill in students were designed and evaluated. The programs were based on two different transfer theories. The first program was based on the theory that transfer of complex cognitive skills is fostered through the development of a rich knowledge structure. The second program is based on the theory that transfer is fostered by paying explicit attention to the various steps that have to be taken in a problem solving process. Effects of the two programs on increase in knowledge and use of criteria and degree of transfer were determined. Results show that both programs enable transfer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Teachers have limited insight in students' perspectives on education, although these perspectives influence quality of learning. As students' and teachers' perspectives differ considerably, there is a need for teachers to learn more about students' experiences and ideas about education. Participatory design might be a good strategy for taking student perspectives into account in instructional design. In areas outside education, the positive effects of participation have already been demonstrated. Purpose: The main goals of this exploratory study are to develop an approach - based on the principles of participatory design - for student participation in instructional design, and to evaluate how students and teachers experience the discussion about possible changes in the design and how they co-operate in designing lessons. Additionally, the study investigates whether the used approach is workable and suitable for use with a range of courses. Sample: The sample consisted of six teachers (of mathematics, economics and English) from two secondary schools in the Netherlands and their 10th-grade pre-university students (N = 139; average age 16 years). In each class, a small group of seven co-designing students was selected as a representative sample of their class. All other students in these classes (i.e. those not directly involved in participatory re-design) were also included, as evaluators of the proposed changes. Design and methods: A participatory design meeting was organised for each group separately. In all groups, the same approach for participatory design was used. The quality of the meeting and the agreement with the proposed changes were evaluated using open questions. The questions were answered individually by both teachers and co-designing students. The remaining students answered questions about their agreement with the proposed changes. The written answers were analysed using a coding scheme. Results: Findings suggest that both teachers and co-designing students were largely satisfied with the meeting. The atmosphere was experienced predominantly as comfortable and enough opportunities were provided to express thoughts and ideas. Teachers, additionally, stated that the usability of students' suggestions was good. The remaining students predominantly agreed on the proposed changes discussed. No differences were found between the evaluation scores of students of different courses. Conclusions: The main conclusion from this exploratory study is that participatory design appears suitable for use in education. The approach used for initiating and structuring the discussion between the teacher and his/her students was appropriate for designing lessons, according to all those involved. As this study suggests, the barriers to the inclusion of students in the instructional design process are not insurmountable, and there are compelling reasons for implementing participatory design in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the IPS-I-model: a model that describes the process of information problem solving (IPS) in which the Internet (I) is used to search information. The IPS-I-model is based on three studies, in which students in secondary and (post) higher education were asked to solve information problems, while thinking aloud. In-depth analyses of the thinking-aloud protocols revealed that the IPS-process consists of five constituent skills: (a) defining information problem, (b) searching information, (c) scanning information, (d) processing information, and (e) organizing and presenting information. Further, the studies revealed that regulation skills prove to be crucial for the on-going IPS-process. The IPS-I-model depicts the constituent skills, regulation skills, and important conditional skills. The model gives an initial impetus for designing IPS-instruction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This experimental study was designed to investigate whether supervision meetings, in which students receive specific advice on how to use a development portfolio to monitor their progress and plan their future learning, helps them to develop self-directed learning skills and improve their learning in the domain. In the first year of a hairdressing program in vocational education, supervision meetings were used to provide students with either specific advice or not. Students in the advice group ( n = 21) formulated better learning needs, selected more suitable learning tasks, completed more practical assignments, and acquired more certificates than students in the feedback-only group ( n = 22). Interviews also showed that students in the advice group appreciated the supervision meeting more and perceived them as more effective than students in the feedback-only group. Guidelines are provided for the use of development portfolios and the organization of supervision meetings in on-demand vocational education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Wide Web (WWW) has become the biggest information source for students while solving information problems for school projects. Since anyone can post anything on the WWW, information is often unreliable or incomplete, and it is important to evaluate sources and information before using them. Earlier research has shown that students have difficulties with evaluating sources and information. This study investigates the criteria secondary educational students use while searching the Web for information. 23 students solved two information problems while thinking aloud. After completing the tasks they were interviewed in groups on their use of criteria. Results show that students do not evaluate results, source and information very often. The criteria students mention when asked which criteria are important for evaluating information are not always the same criteria they mention while solving the information problems. They mentioned more criteria but also admitted not always using these criteria while searching the Web. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An intuitively appealing approach to increasing the flexibility of vocational education and training is to delegate choices on instruction, such as the selection of learning tasks, to students. However, empirical evidence shows that students often do not have sufficiently developed self-directed learning skills to select suitable tasks. This article describes the Informed Self-Directed Learning (ISDL) model, which depicts three information resources supporting students' process of task selection and helping them to develop important self-directed learning skills necessary for effective task selection: (1) a structured development portfolio to support and develop their self-assessment skills; (2) a description of task metadata to help them compare and select suitable tasks; and (3) a protocol for giving advice, which explicitly demonstrates how to use performance results to select suitable tasks. Furthermore, the ISDL model proposes that as students further develop their self-directed learning skills and improve their task selections, the frequency and/or level of detail of given advice gradually diminishes and the choice of available tasks increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School transitions and educational innovations confront students with changes in their learning environment. Though expectations are known to influence perceptions and motivation, which, in turn, influence the effectiveness of any situation, students' expectations for a new learning environment have received little attention. This longitudinal survey, conducted with 1,335 high school students (average age, 15 years), studied students' expectations and subsequent perceptions of 5 characteristics of a new environment (fascinating content, productive learning, student autonomy, interaction, and clarity of goals) and the students' (prospective) dissatisfaction. Results showed that expectations were positively related to later perceptions. Also, high prospective dissatisfaction was related to higher actual dissatisfaction with the environment later on. Investigating expectations and prospective dissatisfaction in relation to student characteristics (i.e., motivational orientations; conceptions of learning; strategies for regulation, information processing, and affective processing) show that motivational problems and fear of failure were risk factors for educational innovations. Furthermore, students' disappointment with the new environment was related to undesirable changes in student characteristics, such as increased fear of failure. The findings stress the importance of preparing students for curricular changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In higher education students are often faced with information problems: tasks or assignments that require them to identify information needs, locate corresponding information sources, extract and organize relevant information from each source, and synthesize information from a variety of sources. Explicit and intensive instruction is necessary, because solving information problems is a complex cognitive skill. In this study instruction for information problem solving (IPS) was embedded in a competence and web-based course for distance education students about research methodology in the field of Psychology. Eight of the 16 students following this course received a version of the course with embedded IPS instruction. The other half received a variant of the course without extra IPS instruction. The analysis of the thinking aloud protocols revealed that after the course students in the experimental condition regulate the IPS process more often than students in the control condition. They also judged the information found more often. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This special issue discusses European research on instructional support to foster students’ ability to solve information-based problems. In this introduction, the concept of information problem solving (IPS) and research in this field of interest will be placed in the broader perspective, which is called information behavior. The focus of this special issue is an educational one and the papers all go into a specific kind of instructional support. The main research questions, findings and conclusions of the six contributions will be outlined. It is concluded that the most important directions for future research deal with how instructional support for different aspect of the process, like for instance how to regulated the process, best can be designed in order to make the instruction adaptive and fit to the learners needs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Searching and processing information is a complex cognitive process that requires students to identify information needs, locate corresponding information sources, extract and organize relevant information from each source, and synthesize information from a variety of sources. This process is called information-problem solving (IPS). IPS can be characterized as a complex cognitive skill, which may need direct instruction to reach high levels of performance. However, IPS has been given little attention in schools, and instruction in this skill is rarely embedded in curricula. And yet, by giving students assignments in which students have to solve an information-based problem, teachers assume that their pupils have developed this skill naturally. A literature study was done to determine what kinds of problems students experience when solving information problems using the WWW for searching information, and what kind of instructional support can help to solve these problems. Results show that children, teenagers and adults have trouble with specifying search terms, judging search results and judging source and information. Regulating the search process is also problematic. Instruction designed specifically for IPS using the WWW for searching information is rare but indeed addresses the problematic skills. However, there are differences between various methods and it is unclear which method is most effective for specific age groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Educational designers often develop a ‘powerful learning environment’ that is subsequently implemented by teachers. Due to a lack of cooperation with teachers they may receive limited feedback on the quality of their design and the way it is implemented. This study focuses on teachers’ perceptions of a Dutch innovative learning environment called the “Second Phase”, as well as their desires and their dis/satisfaction with this environment. The results show that teachers are reserved about student autonomy and productive learning. Perceptions and desires are related to their individual approaches to teaching. The findings provide useful feedback for designers and a starting point to intensify their cooperation with teachers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes an explorative study carried out to gain response from distance students on their experiences with collaborative learning in asynchronous computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments. In addition, this study also attempts to have a good grip of crucial aspects concerning collaborative learning. The study was undertaken among distance learners from the Open University of the Netherlands who were working in groups of 4–11 persons. During and after the course students’ experiences with collaborative learning were measured and after the course also students’ satisfaction with collaborative learning was assessed. The finding revealed that distance learners appreciate the opportunities to work collaboratively. They show positive experiences and are quite satisfied with collaborative learning. This study also sought to explore individuals as well as course characteristics that influenced aspects of collaborative learning, and to search aspects of collaborative learning that influenced students’ satisfaction. The findings suggested that a group product influences group process regulation and group cohesion influences students’ satisfaction with collaborative learning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to reach the main aims of modern education, powerful learning environments are designed. The characteristics of the design of PLEs are expected to have positive effects on student learning. Additionally, teachers' conceptions of learning and teaching do influence the implementation of a PLE. Moreover, students' perceptions of a learning environment affect their subsequent learning behaviour and the quality of the learning outcomes. The different perspectives of educational designers, teachers, and students are summarized in the Combination-of-perspectives (COOP) model. Combining these perspectives by mutual exchange of conceptions and perceptions is expected to have positive effects on the power of PLEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on two studies, which aimed at fostering effective collaboration within an asynchronous computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment by stimulating reflection on and moderation of collaboration processes. In order to facilitate collaborative learning, teacher-education programmes have incorporated information and communication technology in their curriculum. However, the use of asynchronous CSCL environment is relatively new and is based on a number of considerations: having no time and place limitation for students to discuss and argue with each other, providing students more time to think over the learning material before giving their response, no waiting in turn for asking questions and giving answers, and as source of information. Results from both studies indicated that instructional settings influenced the process of collaboration only on minor points. There were a lot of factors that made both studies less successful, such as opportunity to meet face-to-face, students' motivation, the nature of the task, and unsuitable instructional settings.

Abstract: In (higher) education students are often faced with information problems: tasks or assignments that require them to identify information needs, locate corresponding information sources, extract and organize relevant information from each source, and synthesize information from a variety of sources. It is often assumed that students master this complex cognitive skill of information problem solving all by themselves. In our point of view, however, explicit and intensive instruction is necessary. A skill decomposition is needed in order to design instruction that fosters the development of information problem solving. This research analyzes the information problem solving process of novices and experts in order to reach a detailed skill decomposition. Results reveal that experts spend more time on the main skill ‘define problem’ and more often activate their prior knowledge, elaborate on the content, and regulate their process. Furthermore, experts and novices show little differences in the way they search the Internet. These findings formed the basis for formulating instructional guidelines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This special issue discusses Dutch research on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. In this introduction, four broad research lines are distinguished: Policy-oriented research, research on learning technologies, research on computer-based instructional design tools, and research on the pedagogical use of ICT. The focus of this special issue is on the last type of research. The main research questions, findings and conclusions of the six contributions are discussed. It is concluded that the most important directions for future research deal with the added value of ICT for information problem solving in resource-based learning, for collaboration using external representations and tools that provoke critical discussion and reflection, and for simulation in learning environments for competence based learning and discovery learning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper focuses on two increasingly important issues in teacher education: the design of more skill-based education and the involvement of students by means of peer assessment. Ninety-three student teachers were trained in one important peer-assessment skill, namely ‘defining performance criteria’. This training, which consisted of four peer-assessment tasks, was integrated in an existing course. Half of the group was trained in the skill of ‘defining criteria’ (experimental groups) and the other half was not (control group). By working on the peer-assessment tasks, student teachers in the experimental group learned to define performance criteria for a course content-related product. The effects of the training on students' ability to define criteria and the effects on the content-related skill were examined. Findings show that the student teachers from the experimental group scored significantly higher on the use of criteria, but did not surpass the control group on the content-related task performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of peer assessment receives much attention in teacher education. This paper reports the effects of peer assessment training on the performance of student teachers. Ninety-three student teachers were randomly assigned to control groups and experimental groups. The experimental groups were trained in defining performance criteria, giving feedback and writing assessment reports. This was done through peer assessment tasks that were embedded in a redesigned course. Analyses of data derived from peer assessment reports written by the students showed that the experimental groups surpassed the control groups in the quality of the assessment skill. As a result of the training, students from the experimental groups also scored significantly higher grades for the end products of the course than students from the control groups. The results of the questionnaire showed that all students were significantly more satisfied with the redesigned course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For learners, it can be difficult to imagine how to perform a complex skill based on textual information from solely a text-based analytic rubric. Rubrics lack (1) the contextual information needed to convey real-world attributes (2) the dynamic information (such as gesturing in the complex skill of presenting) (3) the procedural information required to support the automation of constituent skills. We propose to address the text-based rubric's deficiencies by adding video-modeling examples, self-explanation prompts, an intertwined educational- and instructional narrative, natural segmentation, and a non-verbal script. With the resulting Video Enhanced Rubric, we aim to improve the formative assessment of complex skills by fostering learner's mental model development, feedback quality, and complex skill mastery. Designing multimedia to support the formative assessment of complex skills using can cause dilemmas for instructional designers. For example, is learner control needed to foster intrinsic motivation or is it deemed to create extraneous cognitive load? Is it wise to use a video modeling example of peer-aged learners when the model does not display perfect performance? We found seven dilemmas around proven complex skill development, motivational design, and multimedia design guidelines. This paper presents a theoretical contribution to instructional design by introducing a framework to address dilemmas regarding such design dilemmas. As a practical contribution, we support educational researchers and practitioners by presenting six practical guidelines for designing a Video Enhanced Rubric. A use case of the Viewbrics-project provides insight into the practical application of the framework within the context of Dutch pre-university education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although various academic disciplines use data papers to support effective research practices, data papers are still uncommon in the educational sciences. Main goals of data papers are enhancing transparency regarding research processes and supporting data sharing among researchers and thus, open science. As many educational research projects include personal data often of minors, publishing raw data can be challenging due to privacy regulations and laws (GDPR). The present article aims at exploring how a data paper can contribute to open science and enhancing transparency regarding research and publication processes for educational research projects, often containing personal data that cannot be made openly available in its raw form. To this end, we describe a dataset of a research project on teachers' noticing as basis for their classroom management. As this project includes rich process-tracing recording methods, the dataset is diverse and serves as basis for multiple analyses and publications while containing personal data of teachers and minors. By elaborating on the characteristics of the dataset, its gathering, analysis approaches and sharing preprocessed and anonymized data files, this data paper explores how to contribute to transparency and open science in educational sciences while acting within the boundaries set by privacy regulations and laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examined the influence of attitude strength on the processing and evaluation of sources and information on the Web. Seventy-nine German university students participated in an eye-tracking study in which they read information from eight pre-selected websites from different sources on the controversial topic of organic foods. Results showed that participants who felt strongly about the topic (i.e., those with strong prior attitude strength) scrutinized website logos of attitude-inconsistent websites shorter and judged the credibility of attitude-inconsistent websites lower. They also included more attitude-consistent information in an essay task than participants with weaker prior attitudes. Participants who felt less strongly about the topic (i.e., those with weaker prior attitudes) fixated longer on text from attitude-inconsistent websites than from attitude-consistent websites. By contrast, for participants with strong prior attitudes the time spent on the texts from attitude-consistent websites and attitude-inconsistent websites did not differ significantly. The results show that prior attitudes can bias evaluation and processing of information in different ways. Even though participants were not fully biased during initial information processing, they were so when evaluating the information and presenting it in an essay task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on learning in three different hypermedia environments that either support autonomous learning, learner-controlled learning or system-controlled learning and explores the mediating role of academic self-regulation style (ASRS; i.e. a macro level of motivation) on learning. This research was performed to gain more insight in the conditions under which learning in hypermedia environments is effective. Sixty-nine grade five students from a primary school answered short essay questions using video material from a hypermedia environment. The effects on task motivation and test performance were measured. It was found that learners in the autonomy supported hypermedia environment reported lower levels of controlled task motivation, compared to the learners in the system-controlled and learner-controlled hypermedia environments. But there were no effects of hypermedia environment on autonomous task motivation or the reported need fulfilment for autonomy. Furthermore, learners in the learner-controlled hypermedia environment scored lower on a delayed, In-Depth Knowledge Test compared to learners in the other two environments. Moreover, learners in the autonomy supported hypermedia environment watched more (unique) videos compared to learners in the system-controlled and the learner-controlled hypermedia environments. As for the role of learners' ASRS, we found no interaction with the type of hypermedia environment on task motivation or performance. Learners' ASRS did, however, affect the learners' motivation for the task. And, when presented with advice (as in the autonomy supported hypermedia environment) learners with an autonomous self-regulation style followed more advice, compared to learners with a more controlled self-regulation style. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Students in complex visual domains must acquire visual problem solving strategies that allow them to make fast decisions and come up with good solutions to real-time problems. In this study, 31 air traffic controllers at different levels of expertise (novice, intermediate, expert) were confronted with 9 problem situations depicted on a radar screen. Participants were asked to provide the optimal order of arrival of all depicted aircrafts. Eye-movements, time-on-task, perceived mental effort, and task performance were recorded. Eye-tracking data revealed that novices use inefficient means-end visual problem solving strategies in which they primarily focus on the destination of aircraft. Higher levels of expertise yield visual problem solving strategies characterized by more efficient retrieval of relevant information and more efficient scan paths. Furthermore, experts' solutions were more similar than intermediates' solutions and intermediates' solutions were more similar than novices' solutions. Performance measures showed that experts and intermediates reached better solutions than novices, and that experts were faster and invested less mental effort than intermediates and novices. These findings may help creating eye-movement modeling examples for the teaching of visual problem solving strategies in complex visual domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent student-perceived parental involvement predicted academic motivation in vocational education and training (VET) students. The sample comprised 2108 young adults participating in a VET institute. Thirty-three items were developed to measure student-perceived parental involvement in VET, as no appropriate questionnaire was available for this educational setting. This questionnaire was analysed with factor analyses which resulted in a new, short, and valid questionnaire with 10 items to measure parental involvement on five indicators. Consistent with prior research, parental involvement significantly predicted motivation in VET students. Three out of five parental involvement indicators were found related to motivation. Specifically, two indicators were positively related to motivation: (1) parent–child educational discussions, and (2) parental aspirations and expectations. The indicator 'reinforcement of learning at home' was negatively related to motivation. These findings provide additional evidence for the significance of parental involvement based upon its link with students' motivation in a VET context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large body of research has shown that for novice learners, instruction that relies more heavily on worked examples than on problem solving, is more effective for learning as shown by higher test performance. Moreover, this beneficial effect is often obtained with less acquisition time and lower cognitive load during acquisition and test phase. However, most of this research has been conducted in laboratory settings with college or university students and a control condition consisting of problem solving without any additional support. The present study, using a quasi-experimental design, investigated the effects of implementing worked examples in an existing primary school mathematics curriculum in which a realistic mathematics teaching method is used, during a 3-week period. The results showed no significant differences in test performance or cognitive load; however, the worked examples group attained this level of performance with significantly less acquisition time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which focused on the effects of providing text strategy instruction in a listening mode on listening and reading comprehension. Characteristics of the students examined; Information on the experimental program employed in this study; Details on significant programs effects revealed in this study.

Learners in the process of developing complex skills need a rich mental model of what such skills entail. Textual analytics rubrics (TR) are a widely used instrument to support formative assessment of complex skills, supporting feedback, reflection, and thus mental model development of complex skills. However, the textual nature of a rubric limits the possibility to deliver contextual and dynamic (time‐and behaviour‐oriented) information. In the Viewbrics online tool, we developed a version supporting the delivery of contextual and dynamic information by adding video‐modelling examples with embedded self‐explanation prompts to textual analytics rubrics. We called this combination as video‐enhanced rubrics (VERs). Our current study investigates whether the Viewbrics online tool supports complex skills development and whether either textual‐ or video‐enhanced rubrics best support complex skills' mastery. The study was a three‐group (VERS n = 49, TR n = 54, control n = 50) within‐subjects design. Learners' performance of complex skills was measured through expert, peer, and self‐assessment using the Viewbrics online tool. A multilevel regression analysis shows learners in the TR and VERS conditions consistently outperforming the control condition to varying degrees across skills. However, no differences have been found between the two experimental conditions. Positive results across different complex skills indicate the Viewbrics online tool can be used to support the development of a wide range of complex skills in secondary education. Lay Description: Known about the subject matter: The acquisition of cross‐curricular complex skills such is crucial for pupils in secondary education.It is important that students and teachers develop a concrete and consistent picture of (aspects of) these so‐called 21st century skills in order to streamline both their acquisition.Textual rubrics may still have room for improvement, as many aspects of desired behavior can hardly be put into words.Many schools in secondary education are struggling with how to teach and assess cross‐curricular skills. What their paper adds to this: So, we designed a online (online) formative assessment methodology, with textual rubrics and the video‐enhanced rubrics.And measured complex skill performance in two secondary, pre‐university education schools for 24 weeks and compared with existing educational practice.Both experimental groups perform significantly better in the three complex skills compared to the control group.However, the video‐enhanced group did not outperform the textual rubric group. The implications of study findings for practitioners: Supporting the formative assessment of complex skills is a recommendable activity for practitioners, that will likely bear fruit.However, incorporating video modeling examples into an online assessment methodology does not result in improvement in complex skill mastery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domain experts regularly teach novice students how to perform a task. This often requires them to adjust their behavior to the less knowledgeable audience and, hence, to behave in a more didactic manner. Eye movement modeling examples (EMMEs) are a contemporary educational tool for displaying experts' (natural or didactic) problem‐solving behavior as well as their eye movements to learners. While research on expert‐novice communication mainly focused on experts' changes in explicit, verbal communication behavior, it is as yet unclear whether and how exactly experts adjust their nonverbal behavior. This study first investigated whether and how experts change their eye movements and mouse clicks (that are displayed in EMMEs) when they perform a task naturally versus teach a task didactically. Programming experts and novices initially debugged short computer codes in a natural manner. We first characterized experts' natural problem‐solving behavior by contrasting it with that of novices. Then, we explored the changes in experts' behavior when being subsequently instructed to model their task solution didactically. Experts became more similar to novices on measures associated with experts' automatized processes (i.e., shorter fixation durations, fewer transitions between code and output per click on the run button when behaving didactically). This adaptation might make it easier for novices to follow or imitate the expert behavior. In contrast, experts became less similar to novices for measures associated with more strategic behavior (i.e., code reading linearity, clicks on run button) when behaving didactically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When searching for information on the Internet, it can be stored in a bookmarking system. The ability to organize this information in such a system depends on one's own prior knowledge to create an appropriate classification scheme. Providing a classification system for bookmarks might support people with low prior knowledge. Even though different bookmarking systems exist, hierarchical menus and tagging are being most widely used. In the current exploratory study with 95 ninth-grade students, a 2 × 2 between-subjects design was used to investigate the influence of providing classification support (or not) for either a tagging or a hierarchical system. Results showed that despite the low familiarity with tagging systems, using a hierarchical system is not necessarily a better approach than using a tagging system to organize previously found information. Rather, a tagging system seems to yield storage of fewer but higher-quality information sources. The most important conclusion is that, despite the low familiarity with tagging systems, using a hierarchical system was not beneficial over using a tagging system to organize previously found information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learners can experience difficulties to form a mental model of a complex skill and what its mastery implicates in terms of actual behavior. Text-based analytic rubrics can support training and formative assessment of complex skills. However, they lack (1) contextual information needed to convey real-world attributes (2) sensor-motoric information (such as gesturing in the complex skill of presenting) (3) procedural information needed to support the automation of (sub)skills. Text-based analytic rubrics deficiencies for skill-mastery can be remedied by adding video-modeling examples with embedded self-explanation prompts, turning text-based analytic rubrics (TR) into so-called 'video-enhanced analytic rubrics' (VERS). The current study contrasts two experimental conditions (TR, n = 54; VERS, n = 49) for fostering the growth of learners' mental model of complex skills. This was done using the formative assessment supporting Viewbrics online tool and one control condition with a secondary school's current approach for skills-development (without rubrics nor Viewbrics-formative assessment (n = 50)). We measured learners' mental models at three times during their project work by assessing the richness of their constructed concept maps. A multilevel regression analysis showed that learners in the VERS condition form richer mental models when compared to the control condition for most complex skills. • We designed an online formative assessment methodology, with textual rubrics and the video-enhanced rubrics. • 1377 open concept maps captured the mental model development of 3 complex skills. • The video-enhanced rubric condition enriched mental models for 2 out of 3 complex skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In contemporary education, students often need to use the Internet to find information for solving a problem and completing a learning task. Teachers assume that students are sufficiently skilled to do so, but research shows the skills necessary for effective information problem solving (IPS) are more often than not underdeveloped. This paper presents a study on embedded IPS training consisting of whole IPS tasks integrated in a 20-week course on vocabulary development, and its effects on student teachers' IPS skills. Skill measurements show that student teachers receiving the training search and select information more systematically in the short term, but their search queries, sources, and solutions are not of significantly higher quality than those of student teachers who received the regular course without IPS training. In addition, the improvements were no longer visible after five weeks. The training therefore succeeded in developing cognitive strategies for approaching an information problem, but did not create lasting improvements in all aspects of the IPS skill. Methodological and practical implications are discussed. Highlights • Students received an embedded, whole-task information problem solving training. • Trained students improved their approach to searching and selecting information. • No improvements were found on quality of queries, selected sources and solutions. • Improvements were no longer visible on a test five weeks after training stopped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of information during information problem-solving processes already starts when trying to select the appropriate search result on a search engine results page (SERP). Up to now, research has mainly focused on the evaluation of webpages, while the evaluation of SERPs received less attention. Furthermore, task complexity is often not taken into account. A within-subjects design was used to study the influence of task complexity on search query formulation, evaluation of search results, and task performance. Three search tasks were used: a fact-finding, cause-effect, and a controversial topic task. To measure perceptual search processes, we used a combination of log files, eye-tracking data, answer forms, and think-aloud protocols. The results reveal that an increase in task complexity results in more search queries and used keywords, more time to formulate search queries, and more considered search results on the SERPs. Furthermore, higher ranked search results were considered more often than lower ranked results. However, not all the results for the most complex task were in line with expectations. These conflicting results can be explained by a lack of prior knowledge and the possible interference of prior attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored preservice (n = 21), beginning (n = 17), and experienced (n = 19) teachers' interactive cognitions accompanying classroom management events they noticed during teaching. Stimulated-recall interviews based on actor-perspective teaching videos (including teachers' hand signals during teaching) captured teachers' verbal reports of interactive cognitions. Content analysis of these verbal reports using a multi-dimensional coding scheme and qualitative network analysis elicited similar patterns in structure and content of interactive cognitions, with minor nuances across teacher groups but considerable differences among individual teachers. Findings emphasize the value of investigating cognitions of one's own teaching practices and the need for teacher training programs to attend to individual differences. • Teacher groups in different professional development phases show similar interactive cognitions connected to classroom management events. • Large variability among individual teachers in interactive cognitions connected to classroom management events. • Taking authentic teaching contexts into account when investigating cognitions connected to teachers' classroom management behavior. • Combining in-action and on-action methods to gain a complete portrait of actorperspective teachers' noticing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities increasingly record lectures and make them available online for students. Though the technology to record these lectures is now solidly implemented and embedded in many institutions, the impact of the usage of recorded lectures on exam performance is not clear. The purpose of the current study is to address the use of recorded lectures in an authentic setting by focusing on the actual time spent on the usage of recorded lectures and the impact on lecture attendance and exam performance. The participants were 396 first-year university psychology students attending a mandatory course on biological psychology. During the course, student attendance to face-to-face lectures was registered and the viewing of the recordings monitored. Results revealed that a large amount of students used the recorded lectures as a substitute for lecture attendance. The group who uses recorded lectures as a supplement when developing a knowledge base score significantly higher on the assessment. When assessing higher order thinking skills, no significant differences were found between using recording lectures and attending lectures. This can be partly explained by relatively low predictive value either form of lectures have on exam performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most students seem to solve information problems effortlessly, research shows that the cognitive skills for effective information problem solving are often underdeveloped. Students manage to find information and formulate solutions, but the quality of their process and product is questionable. It is therefore important to develop instruction for fostering these skills. In this research, a 2-h online intervention was presented to first-year university students with the goal to improve their information problem solving skills while investigating effects of different types of built-in task support. A training design containing completion tasks was compared to a design using emphasis manipulation . A third variant of the training combined both approaches. In two experiments, these conditions were compared to a control condition receiving conventional tasks without built-in task support. Results of both experiments show that students' information problem solving skills are underdeveloped, which underlines the necessity for formal training. While the intervention improved students’ skills, no differences were found between conditions. The authors hypothesize that the effective presentation of supportive information in the form of a modeling example at the start of the training caused a strong learning effect, which masked effects of task support. Limitations and directions for future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]