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Full-Text Articles in Education

Characterizing And Predicting The Multi-Faceted Nature Of Quality In Educational Web Resources, Philipp Wetzler, Steve Bethard, Heather Leary, Kirsten Butcher, Soheil Danesh, Jin Zhao, James Martin, Tamara Sumner Dec 2012

Characterizing And Predicting The Multi-Faceted Nature Of Quality In Educational Web Resources, Philipp Wetzler, Steve Bethard, Heather Leary, Kirsten Butcher, Soheil Danesh, Jin Zhao, James Martin, Tamara Sumner

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

Efficient learning from web resources can depend on accurately assessing the quality of each resource. We present a methodology for developing computational models of quality that can assist users in assessing web resources. The methodology consists of four steps: 1) a meta-analysis of previous studies to decompose quality into high-level dimensions and low-level indicators, 2) an expert study to identify the key low-level indicators of quality in the target domain, 3) human annotation to provide a collection of example resources where the presence or absence of quality indicators has been tagged, and 4) training of a machine learning model to …


Self-Directed Learning In Problem-Based Learning Versus Traditional Lecture-Based Learning: A Meta-Analysis, Heather Leary Apr 2012

Self-Directed Learning In Problem-Based Learning Versus Traditional Lecture-Based Learning: A Meta-Analysis, Heather Leary

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

Problem-based learning is a student-centered, inquiry-based approach that builds problem-solving skills. Reviews of problem-based learning, as compared to traditional lecture-based learning, report modest positive gains in cognitive outcomes. Many metaanalyses have been conducted to analyze the effectiveness of problem-based learning, but none have examined self-directed learning in the context of problem-based learning. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis across all disciplines examining the extent to which problem-based learning engenders self-directed learning compared to a lecture-based approach. This study used a random effects model meta-analysis using 75 outcomes from 38 studies. Results indicated a statistically significant, z(74) …


Impact Of Scaffolding Characteristics And Study Quality On Learner Outcomes In Stem Education: A Meta-Analysis, Brian Belland, Andrew Walker, M. Olsen, Heather Leary Mar 2012

Impact Of Scaffolding Characteristics And Study Quality On Learner Outcomes In Stem Education: A Meta-Analysis, Brian Belland, Andrew Walker, M. Olsen, Heather Leary

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

This paper employs meta-analysis to determine the impact of scaffold characteristics and study and assessment instrument quality on cognitive student outcomes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education at the K-12, college, graduate, and adult levels. Studies were coded for necessary information for effect size calculation, contextual information, threats to internal and external validity, and assessment instrument validity and reliability. Results indicate (a) scaffolding positively impacts student learning (g = 0.53), (b) studies with zero threats to internal validity had lower effect sizes than studies with two threats, (c) studies with one threat to external validity had higher effect sizes …


Self-Directed Learning In Problem-Based Learning: A Meta-Analysis, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, Brett E. Shelton Mar 2012

Self-Directed Learning In Problem-Based Learning: A Meta-Analysis, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, Brett E. Shelton

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

This paper presents a meta-analysis focused on self-directed learning in problem-based learning when compared with a traditional learning approach. A total of 75 outcomes from 38 studies were used in the analysis which resulted in a statistically significant overall medium effect size of g = 0.45, favoring problem-based learning. Subgroup analyses conducted focused on four aspects of self-directed learning. Both personal autonomy (g = 0.51, z(47) = 6.4, p = 0.01) and independent pursuit of learning (g = 0.66, z(2) = 3.49, p = 0.01) report statistically significant positive effect sizes. Three of eight disciplines reported statistically significant effect sizes …


A Meta-Analysis Of Problem-Based Learning Corrected For Attenuation, And Accounting For Internal Threats, Brian Belland, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary, Yu-Chun Kuo, Gulfidan Can Apr 2010

A Meta-Analysis Of Problem-Based Learning Corrected For Attenuation, And Accounting For Internal Threats, Brian Belland, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary, Yu-Chun Kuo, Gulfidan Can

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.


Rich Visual Media Meta-Analyses For Learning: An Approach At Meta-Synthesis, Heather Leary, Brett Shelton, Andrew Walker Apr 2010

Rich Visual Media Meta-Analyses For Learning: An Approach At Meta-Synthesis, Heather Leary, Brett Shelton, Andrew Walker

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.


Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts On Student Outcomes In Problem Based Learning, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, Brett E. Shelton, M. Harrison Fitt Oct 2009

Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts On Student Outcomes In Problem Based Learning, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, Brett E. Shelton, M. Harrison Fitt

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

Problem based learning (PBL) is well known for the large amount of literature in Medical Education (Savery & Duffy, 1995). An essential part of PBL is the role of the tutor. With inconsistencies in the definition of an effective tutor, a systematic review of the literature in all disciplines is necessary. Meta-analysis (Cooper & Hedges, 1994) was used to investigate both content expertise and facilitator training of PBL tutors as moderators of student learning outcomes.


Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts On Student Outcomes In Problem-Based Learning, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, M. Fitt, Brett Shelton Mar 2009

Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts On Student Outcomes In Problem-Based Learning, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, M. Fitt, Brett Shelton

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

The tutor is an essential part of problem based learning (PBL). However, tutor characteristics and role are inconsistent. Meta-analysis was used to investigate both the role and training of PBL tutors as moderators of student learning. Weighted effect sizes were calculated on student outcomes with a modest favorable overall effect size for PBL; a vote count shows favorable results as well. Results indicate a mixture of peers and instructors do best when compared to peers and instructors alone. Tutor training appears to make a difference by itself, but when considered with tutor background, tutor training does not appear to moderate …


A Problem Based Learning Meta Analysis: Differences Across Problem Types, Implementation Types, Disciplines, And Assessment Levels, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary Mar 2009

A Problem Based Learning Meta Analysis: Differences Across Problem Types, Implementation Types, Disciplines, And Assessment Levels, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

Problem based learning (PBL) in its most current form originated in Medical Education but has since been used in a variety of disciplines (Savery & Duffy, 1995) at a variety of educational levels (Savery, 2006). Although recent meta analyses have been conducted (Dochy, Segers, Van den Bossche, & Gijbels, 2003; Gijbels, Dochy, Van den Bossche, & Segers, 2005) that attempted to go beyond medical education, they found only one study in economics and were unable to explain large portions of the variance across results. This work builds upon their efforts as a meta-analysis that crosses disciplines as well as categorizes …


Problem-Based Learning: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Problem And Implementation Types Across Disciplines And Educational Levels, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary Sep 2007

Problem-Based Learning: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Problem And Implementation Types Across Disciplines And Educational Levels, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary

Heather Leary, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.