This edited book gives a comprehensive picture of the state of the art in authoring systems and authoring tools for advanced technology instructional systems. It includes descriptions of fifteen systems and research projects from almost every significant effort in the field. The book will appeal to researchers, teachers and advanced students working in education, instructional technology and computer-based education, psychology, cognitive science and computer science.

The research reported in this special issue addresses some of the obstacles associated with the creation of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS). The attention being lavished on ITS applications is attributable in part to the advantages they enjoy over traditional Computer-Based Training which, despite providing ready access to learning materials and one-on-one interaction, lack the flexibility and learner-centered orientation of ITS that add a dynamic and adaptive dimension to self-paced instruction. The complexities of authoring ITS, though, are numerous and challenging. Coupled with this is the urgent need -- real or perceived -- for a wide array of well-conceived and useful instructional applications. Thus, there is a flurry of activity aimed at improving the economies of ITS authoring tools. The difficulties in creating powerful and usable tools reflect the complexities of the target application: ITS require domain knowledge, pedagogical reasoning skills, understanding of the user and of the user's tasks and goals, interactivity, and an engaging interface. These factors make it unlikely that a single tool can be developed that effectively addresses these disparate areas across a broad range of applications. Tool designers, therefore, face difficult decisions regarding which tasks are in most urgent need of tools, how much and what kinds of knowledge such tools might require, and how broad a range of applications a tool ought to support. This special issue presents three perspectives that are helping to frame current discussions of these questions. Each perspective entails a particular interpretation of the authoring task and the central challenges that tools should be designed to support. The articles provide a representative range of perspectives that provide a glimpse of current progress and call attention to the challenges for ITS authoring tools that loom large on the horizon.

Intelligent tutoring technology is on the verge of a breakthrough into the mainstream of training and education. Over the past 25 years, researchers have learned not only what it takes to develop an effective intelligent tutoring system (ITS), but also what it takes to deploy and use one--the true barometer of a technology's success. This volume brings together a cross-section of ITS researchers from academia, industry, and the government to talk about their experiences in ITS development and technology transfer, both successful and unsuccessful. Section 1 is devoted to detailed descriptions of tools and methods ITS developers can employ during development to facilitate technology adoption. It includes discussions of the paradigmatic change in learning and instructional design that ITS fosters, techniques for gathering design information for ITS domains where empirical or knowledge-based methods are inappropriate, and the conduct of cost-benefits analyses to facilitate ITS funding decisions. Sections 2 and 3 offer numerous case studies of ITS deployment from both industry and the government. All of these case studies--regardless of outcome--provide valuable insights into the dos and don'ts of ITS technology transfer. This volume will be an invaluable resource for all researchers and developers of ITS, as well as for managers and personnel in education and training organizations who must adopt and use ITS technology, and information systems and computing support organization professionals who must support it if it is to succeed.

Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is a very broad and increasingly mature research field. It encompasses a wide variety of research topics, ranging from the study of different pedagogical approaches and teaching/learning strategies and techniques, to the application of advanced technologies in educational settings such as the use of different kinds of mobile devices, sensors and sensor networks to provide the technical foundation for context-aware, ubiquitous learning. The TEL community has also been exploring the use of artificial intelligence tools and techniques for the development of intelligent learning environments capable of adapting to learners’ needs and preferences and providing learners with personalized learning experience. Recognizing the potential of online social networks, social media, and web-based social software tools as learning platforms for online education, the TEL community has devoted significant time and effort into researching how these popular technologies could be combined with appropriate pedagogical approaches to make learning experience more engaging, satisfying, and successful. Among the most important results of these research endeavors are personal learning environments that allow learners to create mash-ups of diverse social software tools based on their own needs and preferences as well as to create and maintain their online learning networks. Undeniably, technological advancement is making education more accessible to an increasing number of people worldwide. To fully exploit the huge benefit the technology is offering, the TEL community is exploring effective approaches for adapting learning resources to address language, generation, and cultural specificities. Aiming to make learning accessible to all, the community has also focused on the development of solutions for learners with special needs. Finally, it should be noted that all the above mentioned research efforts of the TEL community are finding their applications in different learning contexts and domains, including formal education and informal learning, as well as workplace learning in small, medium, and large organizations. Since the scope of TEL research is constantly evolving, the above given overview of the current research efforts does not aim to be exhaustive by any means. Instead, its purpose is to give some insights into the breadth of research topics and challenges that this edited book aims to cover. The book comprises 14 chapters, which are topically organized into several sections. However, this division of chapters into sections is not strictly definitive as each of the chapters itself presents a comprehensive research work that often spans across diverse TEL areas and thus could be categorized into more than one section of the book.

In the context of continuing technological innovation, the field of technology-mediated foreign language learning is expanding rapidly. Advances in digital technologies are providing researchers with opportunities to investigate a range of exciting new areas of research. This edited volume is designed to showcase a selection of recent cutting-edge innovations. This publication incorporates chapters dealing with the use virtual reality, social networking, speech technologies and social semiotics. Also included are chapters that focus on the relevant review work that is vital for progress in the field. This publication provides an indispensable guide to a wide range of practitioners, including language educators, researchers, graduate students, learning scientists and instructional designers.