Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Educational Leadership / W. Franklin Spikes / Eduard Lindeman (1926) stated, “the approach to adult education will be via the route of situations” (p. 8, emphasis in original). Training professionals often face situations that require them to develop and present training programs on subjects for which they have limited or no previous content expertise. This occurs even though the literature stresses the need for trainers to be experts or masters on the material they present (Bernthal et al., 2004; Brookfield, 1990; Draves, 1984, 2000; Galbraith, 1990; Houle, 1984; Long, 2002; McArdle, 1993; McCain, 1999; Slusarski, 1994; Symonds, 1968; Wlodkowski, 1999). Although there is considerable literature on the roles and responsibilities of trainers (McLagan & Suhadolnik, 1989; Nadler & Nadler, 1989), self-directed learning (Candy, 1991; Knowles, 1975; Tough, 1979), and developing training programs (Caffarella, 2002; Long, 1983; McCain, 1999), very little links these areas with the knowledge acquisition process trainers use. This dissertation describes the phenomenological inquiry into the nature of the process trainers use to acquire the knowledge necessary to develop and present training programs for which they have little or no previous content expertise. The population was selected because of the researcher’s background in training and adult education. Criterion, snowball, convenience, and maximum variation purposeful sampling techniques were used to identify trainers who met the criterion of the study. Potential participants were contacted by the researcher and asked to participate in the study. Data was collected via semistructured interviews until thematic saturation was reached. Constant comparison was used to analyze the transcripts of the interviews. Twenty-six common themes were identified during the study and were categorized into six different categories. The six categories are self-directed learning, the training and development process becomes part of the trainer’s life, the needs assessment is part of knowledge acquisition, knowledge acquisition is a continuous part of the trainer’s life, understanding the importance of adult learning principles, and reflection. The results of this study have implications for the adult education, self-directed learning, program planning, human resource development, and training literature.

Scholars often need to search for matching, high-profile sci-entific events to publish their research results. Information about topical focus and quality of events is not made suÿciently explicit in the existing communication channels where events are announced. Therefore, schol-ars have to spend a lot of time on reading and assessing calls for papers but might still not find the right event. Additionally, events might be overlooked because of the large number of events announced every day. We introduce OpenResearch, a crowd sourcing platform that supports researchers in collecting, organizing, sharing and disseminating informa-tion about scientific events in a structured way. It enables quality-related queries over a multidisciplinary collection of events according to a broad range of criteria such as acceptance rate, sustainability of event series, and reputation of people and organizations. Events are represented in di˙erent views using map extensions, calendar and time-line visualiz-ations. We have systematically evaluated the timeliness, usability and performance of OpenResearch.

Interaktive Lernaufgaben stellen eine Möglichkeit dar, das Lernen und den Lernerfolg mit digitalisierten Lehrmaterialien durch interaktive Elemente zu unterstützen. In einer Vielzahl von Learning-Management-Systemen gehört die technische Möglichkeit solche Aufgaben zu erstellen bereits zum Standard-Repertoire. Dieser Beitrag thematisiert anhand von drei empirischen Studien, welchen psychologischen Kriterien interaktive Lernaufgaben genügen sollten, um einen erfolgreichen Wissenserwerb zu fördern. Dabei wird aufgezeigt, dass Lernaufgaben, die unter Beachtung psychologischer Konstruktionsregeln erzeugt wurden, die Lernenden nicht nur beim Erwerb von Faktenwissen unterstützen, sondern ihnen beim selbstregulierten Lernen auch Rückmeldung über die von ihnen eingesetzten und einzusetzenden Lernstrategien geben.

This master thesis focuses on an exploration of digital technologies and systems used for learning interaction, specifically learning of foreign languages (FLA) and second languages acquisition (SLA) and investigates the use of autonomy-based virtual environment systems for knowledge acquisition. The study describes an enhancement of multimodal language learning practices and deployment of teaching material in an autonomous setup operated by language students. The master thesis project culminated with the creation of a language learning virtual reality system called "VR wor(l)ds" supporting oral training and vocabulary acquisition in a contextual learning environment. The VR system is intended to compensate for the loss of equal opportunities among students interacting in the traditional classroom setup. Furthermore, this concept aims to explore new opportunities for knowledge acquisition and opens up an argument for using virtual reality systems for encouraging students to actively engage with oral training and vocabulary acquisition in their language learning process. Last but not least, this project aims to open up a cross discussion between the field of interaction design (IxD) and language learning for possible collaboration on solutions to create playful environments for learning and improve learning outcomes.

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This study examined how learners construct textbase and situation model knowledge in hypertext computer-based learning environments (CBLEs) and documented the influence of specific self-regulated learning (SRL) tactics, prior knowledge, and characteristics of the learner on posttest knowledge scores from exposure to a hypertext. A sample of 160 undergraduate education majors completed measures of prior knowledge, goal orientation, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy to self-regulate learning, and a demographic survey. They were trained in the use of nStudy, a learning environment designed to facilitate self-regulated learning from web-based media including hypertext and to trace learners' actions while they learned online. Learners completed a 20-minute study session learning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and a posttest to assess changes in knowledge scores. Results indicate that employment of individual SRL tactics including tendency to highlight was found to be associated with increased posttest knowledge scores across learners. Goal orientation and prior knowledge also significantly predicted posttest knowledge scores in regression models. These findings can be used to inform the design and use of hypertext in order to individualize computer-based instruction and maximize knowledge acquisition for students, based upon their individual characteristics. / Educational Psychology