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New
epistemologically oriented educational software design in the context of
the visual thinking capabilities of the Shape Understanding System
One
of the aims of this research is an attempt to develop new forms of
evaluation of educational software effectiveness, measured by students’
achievements. It is also important to stress that computerization of the
educational process is not merely a matter of equipment, but even more
importantly of awareness of changes that it brings. Thus the computer is
treated here in a dual sense. In the first and narrow
sense, as a modern educational mean which can improve the learning/teaching
process, and in the second sense, as an information operator influencing
the method of thought.
There are various methods
of software evaluation but most of them formulate ad hoc criteria for
evaluation. At this stage does not exist any empirical methods of
educational evaluation so there is a need for elaboration of the method of
the evaluation of the educational software. The
new method of the software evaluation needs to take into account factors
that have influence on the learning process and on the understanding, as
the result of the learning process.
Existing educational
software is applied across a broad range of domains and topics. In this study
we will restrict our attention to mathematics as a domain where there is
the most of the educational software available. Each topic has its specific
factors that have influence on the degree of difficulties in learning to
understand. There are also many factors that are characteristic for the
group of topics such as complexity or dependence on the context knowledge
that needs to be learnt.
In this project existing educational
software is assessed based on the evaluation methods that are now being developed.
The test for measuring ability is being elaborated, taking also into
account the results of the previous research in designing and testing
educational software and application of the software in educational
process. The results of the research will be applied to elaborate a new
complex method for the designing and implementing educational software.
Curriculum and its changes
(improvements) affected by introduction of the educational software are
also under study.
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