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A computer skill certification test is one of the most important methods for evaluation of a student's computer ability. Since the tests are held frequently, one must efficiently and effectively compose test sheets from a large item bank containing over 10000 test items. To certify student computer skills fairly, the composed test sheets must meet multiple assessment criteria such as the ratio of relevant concepts to be evaluated, the average discrimination degree, the difficulty degree, and the estimated testing time. One must allow significant time to compose an optimal test sheet from a large item bank by generating and testing each possible combination of test items. To cope with this problem, a Tabu search-based approach is proposed for more efficient composition of near-optimal test sheets from very large item banks, while meeting multiple assessment criteria. Based on the proposed approach, a computer-assisted testing system has been developed, and a series of experiments have been conducted to compare the efficiency and efficacy of this approach with other approaches. The experimental results show that the new approach is desirable for the composition of near-optimal test sheets from large item banks. Index Terms--Computer-assisted testing, computer skill certification, Tabu search, test-sheet composing.

This paper describes a Web-based learning and assessment tool developed and implemented over a five-year period. Used predominately with first- and second-year students for skills practice and summative assessment, the tool delivers individualized tasks, marks student responses, supplies students with prompt feedback, and logs student activity. Interviews with instructors indicated that the software had enabled them to manage workloads in spite of rising class sizes and that student learning, based on observation and assessment results, had been enhanced rather than compromised. Student surveys, interviews, focus-group discussions, and informal feedback showed that students found the software easy to use and felt it helped them improve their skills and understanding. Student activity logs provided an insight into student study habits and confirmed the motivating power of assessment. Index Terms--Computer-assisted learning, electrical engineering education, student feedback, student motivation, Web-based assessment.

The intelligent classroom is a concept that is being developed wherein an automated presentation facility allows lecturer interaction and control. A feature of this classroom is the new modes of user interaction that incorporate plan recognition and multiple sensing. For instance, the lecturer is writing on the board while the classroom, which is equipped with audiovisual components, zooms in on what the lecturer is writing on the board.

Byline: Rosalie J. Ocker (1), Gayle J. Yaverbaum (1) Keywords: collaborative learning; computer-mediated communication; computer conferencing Abstract: Although there has been more than a decade of literature on computer-mediated communication in education, the research has been unclear as to whether it is an effective replacement for face-to-face (FtF) collaboration. This study sought to add to this body of research by exploring the effects of two modes of collaboration on student groups. Following a repeated-measures experimental design, each student group collaborated on two case studies, one using face-to-face collaboration and the other using asynchronous computer conferencing technology as a means of collaboration. Empirical findings indicate that asynchronous collaboration is as effective as face-to-face collaboration in terms of learning, quality of solution, solution content, and satisfaction with the solution quality. However, students were significantly less satisfied with the asynchronous learning experience, both in terms of the group interaction process and the quality of group discussions. Author Affiliation: (1) School of Business Administration, Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg, 777 W. Harrisburg Pikem Middletown, PA, 17057-4898 Article History: Registration Date: 29/09/2004

The World Wide Web, educators and students appear to be a natural mix at first glance. However, problems crop up in terms of learning to use Internet technologies in the classroom and the use of the Internet with students when educators open their classrooms to the outside world using the Web. Some of these problems include obtaining Internet access, persuading teachers on the value of using the Internet, enabling them to take the time needed to train on the use of the Internet, training them on Internet use and dealing with e-mail writers who send obscene messages.

The integration of interactive media technology in the curriculum of educational journalism poses legal and ethical issues which include the application of copyright law and the inaccuracy of online information. Despite these issues, the exposure to interactive media technology is necessary for it will help journalism students and professionals keep abreast with the changes in society and at work. Thus, educators and journalists need to properly address these issues in the classroom setting and in the field.

This paper discusses different computer tools used to help deliver, administer, and teach the material covered in two basic undergraduate courses in electrical engineering. The computer facilities, programs, and tutorials developed are discussed; however, the paper concentrates more on analyzing the results of using these tools in the student learning process. The students' marks and the results of several student surveys, as well as the teaching staff's observations, are used to evaluate the usefulness of the different tools and determine their advantages and disadvantages. Some unexpected results regarding the actual students' use of these tools are also presented and thoroughly analyzed. Index Terms - Computer learning, computers in lectures, course administration, simulation programs, student response.

The implementation of an interactive approach to the display and manipulation of harmonics is described. The resulting microcomputer program, which was developed primarily for educational use within the electrical engineering curriculum, allows both synthesis of waves from harmonic (sinusoidal) components and analysis of specified periodic waveforms in terms of their harmonic content. Data may be interactively modified, and cases may be stored for later retrieval. Some of the means employed for making such a program user-friendly and student-oriented, as well as several examples of program use, are cited.

Well-designed and user-friendly computer simulation systems can be used to supplement laboratory studies in geotechnics and to enhance the learning experience of engineering students. The HyperCard software, with its graphics capabilities, ability to process large amounts of data, flexible interface, compatibility with other programs and easy programmability, offers engineering teachers a sophisticated, yet affordable, teaching aid. Students can use the system to examine geotechnical problems derived from real engineering situations.

A study of the use of computers in the Shawnee Mission, School District, KS, reveals that planned use of technology is essential to effect technological revolution in teaching and learning. A nine-member study group to measure computer use in the district identified six areas: instructional management, student records, finance, human resources, facilities planning and management information services, that required technology. Creation of a department to unite management and instructional applications was recommended. Five schools in the district were selected for a pilot program to use the empowering computer technology for classroom curriculum.

An affordable rawinsonde system that has proven helpful in teaching undergraduate meteorology is described. Not only have planned and written exercises been designed around data from the rawinsonde launches, but the actual launches themselves have encouraged an active learning process among the students. In addition, the equipment has enabled undergraduate students to participate in a number of research projects.

The integration of computers into the University of Florida's Nuclear Engineering Sciences teaching laboratories is based on the innovative use of MacIntosh II microcomputers, IEEE-488 (GPIB) communication and control bus system and protocol, compatible modular nuclear instrumentation (NIM) and test equipment, LabVIEW graphics and applications software, with locally prepared, interactive, menu-driven, HyperCard based multi-exercise laboratory instruction sets and procedures. Results thus far have been highly successful with the majority of the laboratory exercises having been implemented.

This paper describes the impact of academic computing on undergraduate electrical engineering courses at Clarkson University. It is not surprising that the computer has had an impact on engineering education since the ready availability of a computer and appropriate software significantly enhances the students' ability to calculate. In this paper, the many changes made possible or made necessary by the ready availability of the computer will be organized in two broad categories: changes to content and changes in presentation.

School administrators can no longer complain about the lack of technological aids to supplement education since computers are readily available for virtually every problem-solving need. For instance, the General Chemistry Program at the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois has been using interactive videodisc lessons created by its former associate director Dr Loretta L. Jones. Stanford University, on the other hand, has a network of Apple computers for word processing, spreadsheets, courseware development and database access.

A number of journalism and mass communication institutes in prominent universities have adopted digital imaging in their photojournalism classes to keep up with technological advancements in business and the society. Despite the economic recession, unfavorable political situation, low enrollment rates and low school budgets, universities such as Ohio University at Athens, Western Kentucky University, Arizona State University, Ohio State University at Columbus and California State University at Fresno, have upgraded their photojournalism classes by purchasing digital imaging equipment and computers for desktop publishing.

The use of computer in course design and teaching is described. The computer-assisted reporting skills in journalism and mass communication programs are also discussed.

Hypermedia is a broadly accepted technique to develop educational systems since its hypertext structure reflects a model of learning based on the students' semantic memory model and the use of multimedia provides interactive mechanisms that allow managing, manipulating, and organizing the lessons. A hypermedia electronic book called CIPP (Curso Interactivo de Programacion en Pascal) is introduced to help students learn the Pascal programming language and the empirical evaluation that was carried out to assess the book utility as an educational tool. One of the most encouraging results from this experience was that, at the end of the course, not only did most students agree with the didactic method which integrated lectures with the use of the electronic book, but also they felt motivated to continue learning Pascal by themselves. Index Terms--Computer-assisted learning, electronic books, evaluation, usability.

Research in educational multimedia shows many benefits of learning with the use of multimedia environments. To take advantage of these benefits we developed multimedia assisted teaching environment (MATE), which is being tried in supporting our teaching of information technology (IT) subjects. MATE's main strength is its ability to facilitate reuse of multimedia components while developing teaching material. In this paper, MATE is described from the perspective of a student learning systems analysis and design via projects and case studies. The workings of the MATE tool is illustrated with an example that shows our approach to teaching design skills with reusable design patterns. Index Terms--Multimedia environment, patterns, self-paced study.

As a result of prior research into the estimating and planning skills of experienced engineers, a number of observable goal-directed expert practices were identified. A computer assisted learning package was developed to teach these to less experienced, practicing engineers. The primary teaching mechanism required the learner to infer how alternative practices differed. This was reinforced both by demonstrating practices in analogous domains, and by showing learners how different practices make different assumptions about the task environment. An evaluation program was conducted with 45 participants in nine organizations, with a number of findings. Individual differences occurred in a variety of ways and proved problematic both for the design of the interface and that of the learning mechanisms. Learners' preconceptions were also problematic in some instances, but seem to be unavoidable in teaching empirical practices to experienced learners. Nonetheless the learning mechanisms worked well, except in isolated instances, particularly the use of analogies. Analogies appeared to be effective both in helping learners transfer practices between everyday tasks and engineering estimation tasks, and in helping them reflect on their current practices. Index Terms--Computer assisted learning, evaluation, estimating, planning.

Computer-assisted instruction in classrooms has made education a costly affair without, however, ushering in any remarkable improvement in academic standards. This is a reflection of the need to divert finance to enhance teacher retraining, which is the most important step in enhancing overall educational standards.

The administration of Pres Bill Clinton has made the creation of a wired classroom through access to the Internet and other advanced communication technologies by schools a national priority. Computers and the Internet, which can mimic all old media, are new media which will in time develop their own unique capabilities and genres. They are expected to change the role of the classroom, but in the final analysis, the issues are what is good for learning and how best to ensure that society's children know what they need to know.

Beijing-based China-USA Business University and local institutions in Beijing have opened network education in graduate, middle and primary schools. This shows that network education with the use of computers is becoming popular in China. Since network education is cost-effective compared to a tutorial method, such educational innovation makes learning faster and convenient. It is expected to be adopted by different schools in the country.