Uses of Technology to Facilitate Education in Skill Training: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

Technology plays a prominent role in contemporary education. In this special issue of Applied Cognitive Psychology, we compiled a collection of articles that employed technological advancements in the training of knowledge and skills. Some articles use simulations, such as virtual environments and 2D and 3D avatars. Other articles compare various presentation modalities and pedagogical agents. Many of the research articles leverage the advantages of technology, such as learning management systems that offer the ability to deliver training bursts and collect user data, automatic immediate feedback, and interactive experiences. In our introduction, we review the important elements of training—with or without technology—through the identification of seven key topics that represent the papers in this special issue: feedback, practice, motivation, levels of learning, cognitive load, simulations, and pedagogical agents. We consider the advantages, disadvantages, and critical principles of technology in education, with an emphasis on skills training. © 2025 The Author(s). Applied Cognitive Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Skills technology education Learning Simulations

Index Keywords

Skill learning training human Article education therapy simulation avatar cognitive load cognitive psychology

Author Affiliations

Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Funding & Acknowledgements

Griffith University

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work. Open access publishing facilitated by Griffith University, as part of the Wiley - Griffith University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.

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Uses of Technology to Facilitate Education in Skill Training: Introduction to the Special Issue

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