PSICO-A: A Computational System for Learning Psychology

PSICO-A is a new educational system, based on the web, for learning psychology. Its computational architecture consists of a front-end and a back-end. The first one contains a design mode, a reflective mode, a game mode and a simulation mode. These modes are connected to the back-end, which is compo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of modern education and computer science 2013-11, Vol.5 (10), p.1-8
Main Authors: González Marqués, Javier, Pelta, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Brain research
CAI
Computer assisted instruction
Computer science
Concept mapping
Design
Education
Educational Environment
Feedback
Games
Learning
Learning Strategies
Metacognition
Pedagogy
School environment
Simulation
Students
Teaching
Tutoring
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:PSICO-A is a new educational system, based on the web, for learning psychology. Its computational architecture consists of a front-end and a back-end. The first one contains a design mode, a reflective mode, a game mode and a simulation mode. These modes are connected to the back-end, which is composed of a rule engine, an evaluation module, a communication module, an expert module, a student module and a metacognitive module. The back-end is the heart of the system analysing the performance of pupils. PSICO-A assembles Boolean equations introducing algorithms such as those of Levenshtein, Hamming, Porter and Oliver. The system design used the programming language PHP5 for a clear and fast interface. PSICO-A is an innovative system because it is the first system in psychology designed for assessing the value of computer-based learning games compared with simulations for teaching the subject. Other systems use virtual environments for teaching subjects like mathematics, physics or ecology to children but the role of digital games and simulations in learning psychology is to date an unexplored field. A preliminary analysis of the motivational value of the system has been performed with sample of undergraduate students, verifying its advantages in terms of to encouraging scientific exploration. An internal evaluation of the system, using the game mode, has been conducted.
ISSN:2075-0161
2075-017X
DOI:10.5815/ijmecs.2013.10.01