Evaluation criteria for scaffolding in learner-centered tools

ABSTRACT

Learner-centered design (LCD) is a design approach for developing software that supports learners (i.e., work novices) to do and learn new work tasks. For our LCD process, we are focusing on evaluating scaffolding, i.e., features that support the doing (and in turn, the learning) of a task in a "learning by doing" fashion. To evaluate the role of scaffolding features on a learner's developing understanding, we present a set of evaluation criteria for distilling richer evaluation data about scaffolding. We will use these criteria to evaluate Symphony, a LCD tool for students learning the science inquiry process.

REFERENCES

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• 5: Chris Quintana , Jim Eng , Andrew Carra , Hsin-Kai Wu , Elliot Soloway, Symphony: a case study in extending learner-centered design through process space analysis, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems: the CHI is the limit, p.473-480, May 15-20, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States [doi>10.1145/302979.303136]

INDEX TERMS

Keywords:
learner-centered design, scaffolding, software evaluation