SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost Science Education Kits for Elementary and Middle Schools

9861308 这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发和试点测试低成本的教育模块，用于在几个小学年级（Q到6）教授科学。光子行业的最新进展已经产生了各种称为发光二极管（LED）的微型光源，它们覆盖可见光谱（红色、绿色、蓝色）。我们将开发基于这些设备的小型手持光源，我们还将开发微型光探测器。这些工具包将包括必要的硬件以及供教师和学生使用的广泛的课程材料。具体的科学实验将包括：反射，折射，颜色理论，散射和荧光。技术应用将包括：条形码阅读器、CD播放器和光通信的简单模型。我们将与课程主任和教师密切合作，将这些工具包整合到几所小学和中学现有的科学课程中，并将完成广泛的试点测试。 我们提出的低成本、多功能试剂盒具有相当大的商业潜力。如果价格低廉，为中小学生提供令人兴奋的、基于探究的课堂实验的工具包可以被广泛接受。我们的单位将围绕非常低成本的设备，但将是有效和可靠的。

9861308 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop and pilot test low cost educational modules for teaching science in several elementary grades Q through 6). Very recent advances in the photonics industry have produced a variety of miniature light sources called lightemitting diodes (LEDs) that cover the visible spectrum (red, green, blue). We will develop small, hand held light sources based on these devices and we will also develop miniature light detectors. These kits will include the necessary hardware as well as extensive curriculum materials for teachers and students. Specific science experiments will include: reflection, refraction, color theory, scattering, and fluorescence. Technology applications will include: simple models of bar code readers, CD players, and communication by light. Working closely with a curriculum director and teachers, we will integrate the kits into an existing science curriculum at several elementary and middle schools, and extensive pilot testing will be completed. There is considerable commercial potential for the low cost, versatile kits that we propose. Kits that offer exciting and inquiry based classroom experiments to elementary and middle school students could be widely accepted if the selling price is low. Our units will be centered around very low cost devices, yet will be effective and reliable.