Knowledge-based approaches to planning and control offer benefits over classical techniques in applications that involve large yet structured state spaces. However, knowledge bases are time consuming and costly to construct. In this dissertation I introduce a framework for analytical learning that enables the agent to acquire generalizable, domain-specific procedural knowledge in the form of goal-indexed hierarchical task networks by observing a small number of successful demonstrations of goal-driven tasks. I discuss how, in contrast with most algorithms for learning by observation, my approach can learn from unannotated input demonstrations by automatically inferring the purpose of each solution step using the background knowledge about the domain. I discuss the role of hierarchical structure, distributed applicability conditions, and goals in the generalizability of the acquired knowledge. I also introduce an approach for adaptively determining the structure of the acquired knowledge that strikes a balance between generality and operationality, and for making the algorithm robust to changes in the structure of background knowledge. This involves resolving interdependencies among goals using temporal information. I present experimental studies on a number of domains which demonstrate that the quality of acquired knowledge is comparable to handcrafted content in terms of both coverage and complexity. In closing, I review related work and directions for future research.

This Handbook provides a state-of-the art overview of the field of workplace learning from a global perspective. The authors are all well-placed theoreticians, researchers, and practitioners in this burgeoning field, which cuts across higher education, vocational education and training, post-compulsory secondary schooling, and lifelong education. The volume provides a broad-based, yet incisive analysis of the range of theory, research, and practical developments in workplace learning. The editors draw together the three essential areas of Theory; Research and Practice; and Issues and Futures in the field of Workplace Learning. In addition, final chapters include recommendations for further development. Key researchers and writers in the field have approached workplaces as the base of learning about work, that is, work-based learning. There has also been emerging interest in variations of this idea such as learning about, through, and at work. Many of the theoretical discussions have centred on adult learning and some on learners managing their own learning, with emphasis on aspects such as communities of practice and self directed learning. In Europe and Australia, early work in the field was often linked to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) traditions with concerns around skills, competencies and ′on the job′ learning. The idea that learning and workplaces had more to do with real lifelong and lifewide aspects than traditional "training" regimens has emerged in the last decade. Since the mid 1990s, the field has grown world-wide as an area of theory, research, and practical work that has not only expanded the interest but has also legitimized the area as a field of study, reflection, and progress. The SAGE Handbook of Workplace Learning draws together a wide range of views, theoretical dispositions, and assertions and provides a leading-edge presentation by key writers and researchers with insight into the field and its current state. It is a resource for researchers and academics interested in the scope and breadth of Workplace Learning..

This book applies common sense principles to research findings in order to facilitate effective teaching and successful learning.

Streamlined ID: A Practical Guide to Instructional Design presents a focused and generalizable approach to instructional design and development – one that addresses the needs of ID novices, as well as practitioners in a variety of career environments. Emphasizing the essentials and "big ideas" of ID, Streamlined ID presents a new perspective – one that aims to produce instruction that is sustainable, optimized, appropriately redundant, and targeted at continuous improvement. The book features an enhanced version of the classic ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) that emphasizes the iterative nature of design and the role of evaluation throughout the design/development process. It clearly lays out a systematic approach that emphasizes the use of research-based theories, while acknowledging the need to customize the process to address a variety of pedagogical approaches: Instructivist, Constructivist, and Connectivist. The book opens with an overview of the basics of ID and each subsequent chapter describes major activities in the ID process with step-by-step instructions and tips for streamlining the process. Numerous job aids serve to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your design efforts. Each chapter highlights key concepts and provides additional exercises and assignments based on the work of Benjamin Bloom. Streamlined ID is an ideal reference guide for optimizing professional practice.

This Proceedings contains many research and practical papers dealing with the impact and influence of information technology on the global economy.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Inductive Logic Programming, held in Leuven, Belgium, in July 2009.