Educational Software Package Research Articles

A Comparison of Traditional Textbook and Interactive Computer Learning of Neuromuscular Block

We designed an educational software package, RELAX, for teaching first-year anesthesiology residents about the pharmacology and clinical management of neuromuscular blockade. The software uses an interactive, problem-based approach and moves the user through cases in an operating room environment. It can be run on personal computers with Microsoft Windows[TM] (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) and combines video, graphics, and text with mouse-driven user input. We utilized test scores 1) to determine whether our software was beneficial to the educational progress of anesthesiology residents and 2) to compare computer-based learning with textbook learning. Twenty-three residents were divided into two groups matched for age and sex, and a pretest was administered to all 23 residents. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the pretest scores of the two groups. Three weeks later, both groups were subjected to an educational intervention: one with our computer software and the other with selected textbooks. Both groups took a posttest immediately after the intervention. The test scores of the computer group improved significantly more (P < 0.05) than those of the textbook group. Although prior to the study the two groups showed no statistical difference in their familiarity with computers, the computer group reported much higher satisfaction with their learning experience than did the textbook group (P < 0.0001). (Anesth Analg 1997;84:657-61)

RANDEMO: Educational software for random signal analysis

We present an educational software package, RANDEMO, created with the idea of supporting a basic course on random signal analysis. The package was implemented in MATLAB. All demonstrations are given in the forms of “m” files, which are integrated into a whole and called through appropriate menus. The main demonstrations include the description of a random variable, different types of random variables, and a random process. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 5: 93–97, 1997

Designing educational software as a re‐usable resource

Abstract The production of educational software is moving from a focus on courseware produced by the individual lecturer to the development of educational resources that can be shared and accessed from a wide variety of teaching sites. This change has a number of implications. Firstly, different resources must be capable of being seamlessly integrated into a specific teaching package. Secondly, collaboration between institutions will be increasingly important to ensure that resources so produced are sufficiently generic to be of interest to those outside the development team. Thirdly, management procedures to direct and control this collaborative effort are required. This paper details how the distributed hypermedia environment provided by the World Wide Web may be effectively exploited to realise these three goals.

Software modeling of electric sub-transmission systems for educational purposes

This paper presents an educational software package, FYPREL.EXE, that was developed for conducting sub-transmission system adequacy studies. The fundamental objective of the developed software is to simulate the basic system failure modes and assess the impact that fluctuating weather conditions have on a system's overall reliability. Due to obvious advantages, the failure modes and effects analysis was implemented as the key evaluation technique. Two sets of indices, the basic load point and system performance indices, are used to assess the reliability. A series of studies were conducted using the developed software on a test system designated RBTS. Selected results from these studies are presented in the paper.

SFG-GP: An effective tutoring system for goal programming

Most educational software packages for management science/operations research (MS/OR) introduced in the 1980s were designed mainly to obtain model solutions efficiently. As an effective teaching (or learning) aid, MS/OR software should be designed as a drill and practice program to encourage the student's participation in solving a model. It should also provide clear explanations of the solution procedure. Consequently, educational MS/OR software should adopt a solution algorithm that can help students learn MS/OR models more effectively, rather than simply achieving computational efficiency. Thus, MS/OR software should ask questions, compare answers of the students and experts, and provide explanations to enhance students' understanding of MS/OR techniques. To demonstrate these features, we developed SFG-GP (Signal Flow Graph Method of Goal Programming) which not only encourages students to participate in solution procedures, but also provides necessary explanations using predetermined sentences.

MarketTools: An educational commodity marketing game

Agricultural commodity market participants make decisions in a risky and changing environment. Few agricultural producers use the diverse marketing alternatives available to them. Many are unfamiliar with the mechanics of the alternatives and methods for incorporating them into marketing strategies. This article describes MarketTools, an educational software package designed to support real-time, competitive marketing games. MarketTools simplifies record keeping and provides the basis for a structured approach to marketing education. The concluding section summarizes experience in using MarketTools in adult education and classroom settings. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An educational software package for reliability evaluation of interconnected power systems

The reliability of the generating capacity in a power system is normally improved by interconnecting the system to another power system. This paper describes a Microsoft Windows 3.1 educational software package developed for the evaluation of the loss of load expectation (LOLE) and loss of energy expectation (LOEE) indices for up to three interconnected system generation facilities. Basic probabilistic techniques using recursive algorithms, the equivalent assisting unit approach and the probability array method are implemented. In addition, the software package is able to define and incorporate five types of load models, multi-state tie line models and three types of interconnection agreement schemes in the analysis. Comprehensive analysis tools for creating and viewing the various models and for performing sensitivity studies, including selective printing of results, are also included.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

ProDIM: Educational software for digital image processing

AbstractWe present the educational software package ProDIM, created with the idea of supporting courses on digital image processing techniques. This package was implemented in Visual Basic, which is a visual programming language to create applications in a Windows environment. Operations available in ProDIM include manipulation in the space and frequency domains, such as 2‐D convolution, gray‐level transformations, linear filtering, histogram equalization, and morphologic filtering. Examples show how the package can be useful as a lecture aid and as a lab assistance tool. The image to be processed can be generated using the editor included, or can be imported using images in a BMP format. A graphical interface allows the user to activate available operations through a menu selection.

The application of simulators in teaching digital electronics

Digital simulators offer many potential benefits in the teaching of introductory courses in digital electronics. This paper sets the scene for their application in contemporary higher education and suggests possible areas where they can be applied. The requirements of the particular educational simulator software package employed are discussed and examples of practical exercises used with students are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the simulator approach are compared with conventional courses. Conclusions are drawn based upon observations from practical implementation experience and progression to professional level digital design tools is considered.

Investigating Cross‐national Educational Software Portability: the Case of Electronic Workbenches

Summary A critical issue with respect to improving an international market for educational software is that of portability. What features are most likely to facilitate or thwart the portability of an educational software package? Under what conditions would the cross‐national use of a software package be more likely to occur? These questions have formed the framework for a four‐year study based at the University of Twente in The Netherlands involving researchers and practitioners from more than 20 countries. Part of the study has been focused on the examination of so‐called ‘electronic workbenches’ as particularly promising candidates for cross‐national educational software portability. This paper summarizes international experiences with a particular electronic workbench (EWB for electronics instruction) as a basis for more general recommendations about workbench simulations as a type of educational software well suited for cross‐national portability.

The Portability of the “Electronics Workbench” Simulation Software to China

This article discusses the portability of the Canadian-made simulation software package, “Electronic Workbench” package (EWB) to China. As part of a larger project investigating the portability of various educational software packages, the EWB package was used in electronics instruction in China and was also evaluated by specialists relative to its potential usability and value in Chinese schools and higher education. Through these experiences, an analysis was made about the educational value of EWB in China and the problems likely to confront its more general use in the country. In addition, ideas are proposed for the extension of the EWB package itself and for further development of “workbench” software for other subjects.

TIGER/Line files in teaching GIS

Abstract This paper offers a teaching strategy for incorporating TIGER/Line files into introductory GIS courses where IDRISI and OSUMAP are the primary software packages. TIGER/Line files present a valuable database for teaching GIS. The TIGER data structure aids in teaching concepts related to topological data structures, geocoding and address matching, and the files themselves provide an excellent database for laboratory exercises that incorporate census information along with environmental and natural resource data. Lack of support by commonly-used educational software packages to import TIGER/Line files directly has been a serious impediment in an instructional context. This paper presents software developed to convert TIGER/Line files into simple polygon vector files acceptable by IDRISI and OSUMAP for three alternative census geographic units (tracts, block groups and blocks). The resulting vector files are plotted for visual examination and graphical output. The vector files generated can also be i...

Interactive display of vector fields inside waveguides

The educational software package WGVMAP has been developed to enable students to plot interactively the electric and magnetic field lines of TE and TM propagating modes in cylindrical waveguides. The waveguide cross-sections considered are rectangular, circular, sectoral, and circular with a conducting baffle. The vector field display and generation of the field lines can be performed on a very modest configuration of an IBM PC or compatible computer, and plotted on an x-y plotter. Examples are presented to demonstrate the interactive procedure for generating the field lines.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

PHOTOBIO: Modeling the Stomatal and Biochemical Control of Plant Gas Exchange

Simulation models are increasingly being used to describe physiological processes in the plant sciences. These models, while useful for research purposes, also offer tremendous potential for demonstrating a wide array of scientific concepts to students. We have developed an educational software package that illustrates the stomatal and biochemical control of transpiration and photosynthesis. The simulation program uses a biochemical model of C assimilation that, when coupled to an empirical submodel describing stomatal conductance, can be solved iteratively for leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration. Graphic and tabular presentations, combined with on-screen requests for student input, serve to effectively convey the basic fundamentals of plant gas-exchange, and the diurnal patterns of photosynthesis and transpiration in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. More advanced topics focus on the biochemical limitations imposed on photosynthesis by Rubisco activity, electron transport capacity, and the regeneration of inorganic P. Also included is an exercise that challenges students to use the lessons learned to optimize C assimilation, while minimizing water losses, over a 3-d simulation period. Application of the program can assist instructors in illustrating important concepts regarding stomatal and biochemical control of plant gas-exchange.

Training authors to develop educational software through the adaption of foreign software

Until recently, educational software in the F.R.G. was not sufficient, nor of adequate quality to meet the needs of German schools. To overcome this problem, in 1988 an international collaboration was set up between the Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften and the Educational Computing Unit at King's College London to provide training for German authoring teams to evaluate and produce educational software. This collaboration, which has been supported by several of the Lände, the British Council, and the publishers CoMet-Verlag, has resulted in the training of 25 people working in 6 groups, and the production of 10 educational software packages in the first phase and a similar number of software groups and packages with new teams in the second phase. The primary objective is the qualification of educational software authors, the secondary objective is the development of courseware for German-speaking schools. This paper discusses some of the issues and problems identified in the collaboration, and compares the successes of this method of training and software production with methods recommended by other international organisations.

The POCO Project

The Dutch POCO project for the production of educational software seems to have diametrically opposed goals. Its main mission is to meet local needs, but an important additional goal is that the software being developed should also have a broader potential for other target groups in other markets. This is a clear example of the portability dilemma. POCO tries to develop strategies to meet the problem; these strategies are the subject of this article. In the article, the context of POCO is described. Four main types of educational applications and their portability potential are analyzed. The POCO production process is designed to increase chances for portability. A summary of this process is given, together with specific examples of such “chances” and the corresponding POCO solutions. Some examples of products with a high portability potential are analyzed. One of the final conclusions is that, in the end, the quality and richness of the educational design determine the portability potential; that is, if the production process is well-organized.

Conditions that Facilitate the Implementation of Educational Technology Innovations

AbstractEight conditions that facilitate the adoption, implementation, and institutionalization of educational technology innovations are described and applications to the transfer of portable software are suggested. The conditions: dissatisfaction with the status quo, knowledge and skills, resources, time, rewards, participation, commitment, and leadership. Potential outcomes for using the conditions to review the likely level of portability of an educational software product in terms of its implementation in local sites are suggested.

Hypertext

Newly available educational software packages provide effective alternatives to traditional computer-assisted software.

Software Design as a Learning Environment

Abstract This article describes a learning research called the Instructional Software Design Project (ISDP), and offers a Constructionist vision of the use of computers in education. In a Logo‐based learning environment in a Boston inner‐city public school, a fourth‐grade class was engaged during one semester in the design and production of educational software to teach fractions. Quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used to assess their learning of mathematics, programming, and design, and their performance was compared with that of two control classes. All three classes followed the regular mathematics curriculum, including a two‐month unit on fractions. Pre‐ and post‐tests were administered to the experimental and control groups. The evaluation revealed greater mastery of both Logo and fractions as well as acquisition of greater metacognitive skills by the experimental class than by either control class. Selected results from several case studies, as well as an overall evaluation are p...

Educational software for electrical engineering: A methodology and some results

In this paper, problems related to the use of the microcomputer as a teaching tool in engineering education are discussed. The objectives and methodological principles of educational software are defined, stressing the need to improve the quality of engineering education. The microcomputer is considered as an engineering tool in the decision-making process, offering possibilities for further deeper analysis of physical phenomena in electrical devices. Examples of applications of the methodological principles developed for the elaboration of educational software packages for electrical engineering are given.