Tutorial

"Cognition, Learning and Instructional Technology"   By Professor J. Michael Spector, Florida State University / The University of Georgia, USA

Abstract

In keeping with the multidisciplinary theme of CELDA, this workshop will address issues that involve three different professional disciplines: cognitive science, learning research and instructional technology. This workshop will include a discussion of the formation and development of mental models and schema, a preliminary list of learning principles based on what cognitive psychologists have learned about mental model development, and guidelines for the design of instruction according to these principles. Technology based tools and techniques to assess progress of learning and to provide personalized feedback to facilitate the efficient development of appropriate mental models will be demonstrated. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in a mental model development exercise, use the tools to elicit and assess mental models, and to design and discuss a practical lesson that integrates all of the principles presented.
 

Bio

J. Michael Spector is Associate Director of the Learning Systems Institute, Professor of Instructional Systems, and Principal Investigator for the International Center for Learning, Education and Performance Systems at Florida State University. He will be a Research Professor at the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory at the University of Georgia effective January 2009. He is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin. His recent research is in the areas of intelligent support for instructional design, system dynamics based learning environments, assessing learning in complex domains, distance learning, and technology integration in education. Dr. Spector served on the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi) as Executive Vice President; he is on the Executive Committee of the IEEE Learning Technology Task Force and is President-elect of the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT). He is the editor of the Development Section of ETR&D and serves on numerous other editorial boards. He co-edited the third edition of the Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology and has more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and books to his credit.

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