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Launceston
My research interests include a broad range of issues related to knowledge, information, learning how to learn and developing new information. My current work focuses on the development of personal beliefs about knowledge and knowing - and how learners construct and adapt knowledge to suit their own existing beliefs, and how these beliefs control decisions made by the learner.
In order to underpin my current theory, there is a need to create an information system project that will assist educators to understand how and where an individual’s beliefs 'fit' within their peer group. Initially the project must be able to accept data from online input sources. This information system must also be able to correctly store the data, and through a series of known mathematical calculations, produce graphical images that indicate the results of the data analysis.
It would be expected that the analysis used within the project would be of a simplified nature - essentially producing a black box solution. The graphical representations of groups and how individuals fit within those groups must be designed to illustrate clear results, which will then enable the educator to tailor specific learning needs for individuals quickly, and easily.
This project would prove invaluable as a predictor of academic behaviour, as the literature already shows that student’s beliefs effectively pre-determine how well a student will achieve in a particular field of study. By using a tool such as this, educators as well as student career planners would be able to more accurately identify the correct learning outcomes for individual students and increase overall academic achievement within their educational domain.
shared
Doug Colbeck
6324 3211 or 0448 343 850
School of Computing, Room V-174
Doug.Colbeck@utas.edu.au
http://www.comp.utas.edu.au/users/dcolbeck/Index.htm
The estimated software difficulty rating is 3-3.5