New aptitudes for adaptive instruction; a computer simulation of a learning environment individualized by human information processes and reinforcement contingencies

THE INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM WOULD BE ONE THAT ADAPTS THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO EACH STUDENT"S MOTIVATIONAL AND INFORMATION PROCESSING CAPABILITIES. THE PURPOSES OF THE SIMULATION ARE THREE: TO INTRODUCE THE COMBINATION OF HUMAN INFORMATION PROCESSING AND ASSOCIATED REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCIES AS ATTRIBUTES FOR INDIVIDUALIZING INSTRUCTION; TO MODEL THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT RESULTING FROM ADAPTION OF INSTRUCTION BASED ON ATTRIBUTES OF PROCESSES AND THEIR REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCIES; AND TO SPECIFY PRELIMINARILY A COMPUTER-BASED ADAPTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL BASED ON THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ATTRIBUTES. VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE SIMULATION ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING MEANS BY WHICH STUDENTS WOULD INTERACT WITH THE COMPUTER. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE SIMULATION AS DESCRIBED HAS NOT BEEN FULLY EMPIRICALLY GROUNDED, BUT IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK IN WHICH MEASURES OF INFORMATION PROCESSING AND REINFORCEMENT BECOME RELEVANT TO INSTRUCTION.