EXPLORATORY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS - WHAT ARE THEY AND DO STUDENTS EXPLORE

Computer-based learning environments have been defined as settings whe re students use software to facilitate active, exploratory learning. W e distinguish between illocutionary and non-illocutionary learning env ironments: the computer interprets the intent of students in the forme r but not in the latter. We apply these terms to language learning env ironments, and report descriptive research on ESL students' use of a n on-illocutionary learning environment. Results indicated students ''ex plored'' the learning environment in a routine way, but failed to expl ore creatively the program's morphosyntactic possibilities; routine ex ploration was positively related to attitudes for part of the group, b ut negatively related to attitudes for students who may have found the software environment too easy. Implications for illocutionary and non - illocutionary learning environments are discussed.