According to the modal view, essence admits of reductive analysis in exclusively modal terms. Fine (1994) argues that modal view delivers an inadequate analysis of essence. This paper defends the modal view from Fine’s challenge. This defense proceeds by examining the disagreement between Finean primitivists and Quinean eliminativists about essence. In order to model this disagreement, a distin...

In order to design information retrieval (IR) learning environments and instruction, it is important to explore learning outcomes of different pedagogical solutions. Learning outcomes have seldom been evaluated in IR instruction. The particular focus of this study is the assessment of learning outcomes in an experimental, but naturalistic, learning environment compared to more traditional instr...

Visualization of the learning processes is a powerful way to help students to understand their curricula and the structure behind them. CME2 is a prototype software of this favourable concept, visualizing the learning process as a graph. With this tool students and teachers can easily handle and plan their personal curricula in larger scale and see the connections between different courses. The...

Despite some inevitable disadvantages – like the cost of setting up and maintaining all the components of a network – the learning community is working toward understanding the basic principles behind online learning. These principles should be found within the domains of place design and educational taxonomies. Design principles can be applied in conjunction with educational principles to prod...

Involvement is an important mediating factor in judgements concerning user experience. Concept mapping was used to further understand and define the construct of involvement within the context of watching television.

The study reported in this paper developed and evaluated a web-based concept map testing system for science students. Thirty-eight Taiwanese high school students were involved and it was found that their performance on the system was not significantly related to their achievement as measured by traditional standard tests. Their views about the use of the system, in general, were positive. An an...

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The recognition of conceptual knowledge as a critical element in effective content-area instruction has been advanced by the development of concept mapping applications to instruction. This paper broadens awareness of how concept mapping can serve as a basis for linking instructional strategies that when combined with concept mapping form an instructional system teachers are able to use to impr...

Learning mathematics requires students to work in an independent way which is particularly challenging for such an abstract subject. Advancements in technology and, taking the student as the focus of his own learning, led to a change of paradigm in the design and development of educational contents. In this paper we describe the first experience with an interactive feedback and assessment tool ...