Wednesday October 8, 1997
4:10-5:00pm
Room 124, H.R. Bright Building
This talk discusses several issues arising in the design of educational software including user interfaces, motivation, navigation structures, and the use of mediation and supporting materials. Examples are given from two mathematical computer games, Super Tangrams and Phoenix Quest. We illustrate the effectiveness of awkward interfaces and scaffolding in engaging the student with the educational content. We also compare the merits of sequential navigation structures with structures allowing students more freedom in choosing different paths through a set of activities.
Maria Klawe is currently the Vice-President of Student and Academic Services at the University of British Columbia, having served as Head of the Department of Computer Science there from 1988 to February 1995. Her responsibilities as vice-president include UBC's libraries, computing and communications, student services, housing and athletics. Prior to joining UBC, Maria spent eight years with IBM Research in California, and two years at the University of Toronto. She received her Ph.D. (1977) and B.Sc. (1973) in Mathematics from the University of Alberta. She has worked in a number of research areas in mathematics and computer science including functional analysis, discrete mathematics, theoretical computer science, and interactive-multimedia for mathematics education. She is the founder and director of the Electronic Games for Education in Math and Science (E-GEMS) project, a large-scale collaborative project involving computer scientists, mathematics educators, teachers, children and professional game developers. She has also served on many boards and advisory councils, including the Board of Trustees of the American Mathematical Society (chair 1995-96), the Computing Research Association (vice-chair 93-95), and the B.C. Premier's Advisory Council on Science and Technology. She has recently been awarded the NSERC Chair in Women in Science and Engineering for the Province of British Columbia.