Evaluation of a Portable Microcomputer-Based Laboratory in Sixth-Grade Science Classes

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9312026 Frey A strategy for stimulating student interest in and commitment to science is to engage them in active discovery of reality by taking them out of the classroom into the field. Microcomputer- Based Laboratories (MBLs), which typically consist of a computer, sensors, graphing software, and instructional materials, were developed to give students a hands-on learning method and have been shown to improve student performance. Results of the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) study establish the technical basis for going beyond the conventional MBL by integrating existing, state-of-the-art, low-cost, palm-sized, portable data acquisition equipment into a new educational tool, Earth Explorer, a Portable Microcomputer-Based Laboratory (PMBL), which will allow students to collect data without being directly connected to the computer yet permit them to download that data after collection. The objectives of the Phase II study focus on (1) creating Earth Explorer courseware for additional sixth grade science education units; (2) modifying and expanding the Earth Explorer hardware; (3) improving and enhancing the Earth Explorer software and related materials; (4) creating teacher education materials for understanding and effectively using the Earth Explorer system; (5) designing and implementing an effective evaluation process; and (6) conducting a national field test involving schools representing socioeconomic and racial diversity in their student populations. By providing an instructional system, the Earth Explorer, that is compatible with and usable in a broad range of curriculum frameworks, the project will aim to provide an opportunity for students to benefit from instructional strategies which capitalize on student interest through active hands-on participation. ***