EIPT 6333 : Week 5 Reflective Notes (Calvinly.com)

Articles/Books Citation
1. Lajorie & Derry (2000). Computers as Cognitive Tools: No More Walls.

Introduction
The introduction begins by discussing the rationale behind the term ‘No More Walls’ in which is used as the title of the book. In the first book, it discusses the three different camps: modelers, non-modelers, and middle campers. It seems as though some people were taking the notion the wrong way. So, in using the term ‘No More Walls’, the author tries to tear down the walls between the camps and focus more on who or what should do the modeling and coaching (ex: computer or human beings) instead of labeling them into three different camps.

The author later breaks down each chapter and gives a brief summary and explanation of what the chapter is about and what their research is focused on. I think the author makes a great point about changing the notion of different camps. I can see how separating the camps and labeling them into different categories can get carried away. I find deciding who or what does the modeling much more clarified and easier to understand.

Chapter 1
This chapter begins by discussing constructivist philosophies. Constructivists believe that knowledge cannot be objectively defined and statistically represented. Instead, it is individually constructed from what learners do in their experiential worlds. The author then notes the three properties of constructivism that not readily addressed or accepted: (1) Learning occurs within a context that is itself part of what is learned, (2) knowing and doing cannot be separated, and (3) learning is a process that is extended over time. These three properties are very important for students to process learning. Basically, the goal is to create a computer-based learning environment in which will allow learning to happen over time, through interactions between cognitive structures and context and through activity.

The author later uses analytical terms to defining situations and interactions, properties of courses of interaction, and affordances. He then explores an intelligent learning environment called INCENSE, which is designed for software engineers. The setting provides a software engineering laboratory in which students may model a software engineering process. The situations are ill defined and ill structured and some of the tasks that students are involved in included selecting appropriate techniques, getting the appropriate information, transforming information in many ways, and more. The learner interacts by (1) creating a process, (2) accessing archive on requirements analysis, (3) creating a material, (4) accessing the interaction trace, and (5) creating a result. As a result of the sequence of learner’s action translates into a learning process that exhibits these properties that denote particular ways in which interactions in a learning situation lead to constructivist learning processes that are cumulative, constructive, self-regulated, and reflective with respect to a set of software engineering concepts.

The author later develops a tripartite model which combines the three types of models (domain, student, and teacher/tutor) in which each of the models are subsets of another model: situation model is a superset of domain model, interaction process model is a subset of student model, and affordance model is a subset of tutoring model.

Overall, I though this chapter was a little confusing. Although I understood what each parts of the chapter meant, I didn’t really understand the meaning behind the ILE architecture. I will try to re-read it again to make more sense of it.

Chapter 2
This chapter focuses on TAPPEDIN, which is a multi-user virtual environment. The virtual spaces of TI provided places where teachers and other educational professionals can “meet” and collaborate and where artifacts and tools can be created and stored. The aim of this study is to study social knowledge construction in online communities.

I thought the design of the virtual environment was interesting. Users could type in commands which explain the mood or the description of their messages. I think it can be very helpful because since people are not face-to-face, it is very difficult to see user’s emotion and expression. I think the interface can improve a little bit. Perhaps by adding more detail and color, it can make it more aesthetically pleasing.