SBIR Phase I: Macroscopic and Molecular Interactive Simulations for Physical Science Education

9860613这项由Advanced Fuel Research，Inc.发起的小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目涉及开发教育软件，该软件通过交互模拟在宏观和分子尺度上同时演示日常物理现象。动态可视化包括交互式计算机模拟，学生可以在其中修改参数并在屏幕上观察结果，这对理解和记忆概念特别有效。该项目包括开发宏观热传递和热力学模型，并将该模型与最近在高级燃料研究中心开发的计算快速的分子动力学模型相结合。学生将能够通过交互式用户界面以类似于游戏的方式改变参数，并观察结果。屏幕可以显示一个场景(与教育工作者合作选择)，比如湖上的一艘船，有太阳、云和其他各种熟悉的物体。第一阶段的目标是演示可以模拟的流程范围，并实施其中的几个流程。下一阶段研究的目标是开发该产品，作为更传统的物理教育教学工具的伴侣。该项目支持科学教学方式的创新。由于能够考虑广泛的内容主题，拟议的软件产品将提供一种创新工具，以阐明日常自然现象所基于的概念。高级燃料研究旨在提高学生的理解力，激发学生对科学的兴趣，作为一种理解周围现象的方式，通过展示系统中的元素，预计会导致无限制的集体挑战和好奇心的增强。

9860613 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project from Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. involves the development of educational software, which demonstrates everyday physical phenomena simultaneously at the macroscopic and molecular scale using interactive simulations. Dynamic visualizations involving interactive computer simulations where the student can modify parameters and observe the results on the screen can be especially effective for the understanding and remembering of concepts. This project involves the development of a macroscopic heat transfer and thermodynamics model and the combining of this model with a computationally fast molecular dynamics model recently developed at Advanced Fuel Research. Students will be able to vary parameters in a game-like manner through an interactive user interface, and observe the results. The screen could show a scene (to be chosen in collaboration with educators) such as a boat on a lake, with the sun, clouds, and various other familiar objects present. The objective of Phase I is to demonstrate the range of processes that can be simulated and implement a few of these processes. The objective of the next phase of the research is to develop the product as a companion to more conventional teaching tools for physical science education. This project supports innovations in how science is taught. Having the capability of considering a wide range of content topics, the proposed software product would provide an innovative tool to elucidate the concepts on which everyday natural phenomena are based. Advanced Fuel Research aims to improve student understanding and to stimulate the students' interest in science as a way to understand phenomena around them by presenting elements in a system in a way anticipated to lead to open-ended group challenges and enhancement of curiosity.