SBIR Phase I: Interactive Tools for Active Learning (ITAL)

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目来自PhRAM公司。ITAL将制作一个综合教育工具的工作和可测试的原型，并将获得拟议软件如何与学生一起工作以及如何被教师接受的初步证据。 ITAL的软件设计用于创建教育模块和工具，帮助教师从不同的教育资源和万维网中组合成一个单一的基于计算机的学习环境。 拟议的开放式软件包将包括一个活动外壳，建模活动，解决问题的导师，互动课程和设计工具，评估学生进步的工具，等等。几乎所有的软件都可以通过脚本控制。 拟议的软件包采用了“学习情况为重点”的方法。 模拟模块基于“真实情况”。 它使学习者能够积极参与建模和虚拟实验，观察从宏观到微观的物理过程。 该软件使学生能够从智能组件组装各种功能系统，并将科学内容和技术教育与真实的生活技术问题联系起来，从而跨越应用知识和基础科学之间的鸿沟。 该软件可在配备独立计算机或局域网的教室中使用，也可通过因特网进行远程学习。 PhRAM的软件旨在解决高中，技术和职业学校和大学的学生和教师以及从事任何类型的远程学习的人，包括残疾人。 该产品可用于公司培训技术人员。 它还将瞄准基于计算机的设计和工程市场，并将有助于向客户展示家用硬件。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project from PhRAM Inc. ITAL will produce a working and testable prototype of a comprehensive educational tool and it will obtain initial evidence of how the proposed software works with students and how it is accepted by teachers. ITAL's software is designed to create educational modules and tools that will help teachers assemble a single computer-based learning environment from heterogeneous educational resources and the WWW. The proposed open-ended package will include an Active Shell, Modeling Activities, Problem Solving Tutor, Interactive Lessons and a tool to design them, Tools for Assessing student progress, and more. Virtually everything in the software can be controlled from a script. The proposed software package employs a 'learning situation-focused' approach. The Simulation module is based upon a 'real-life situation'. It enables learners to actively participate in modeling and virtual experimentation and observe the physical processes from macroscopic to microscopic levels. The software allows students to assemble various functioning systems from intelligent components and link science content and technology education with real life technical problems and thus to cross a gulf between applied knowledge and fundamental science. The software may be used in classrooms equipped with stand-alone computers or local networks or it may be used over the Internet for distance learning. PhRAM's software is designed to address high, technical and vocational school and college students and teachers as well as people engaged in any kind of distance learning, including those with disabilities. The product can be used by companies for training technicians. It will also target the marketplace of computer-based design and engineering, and it will be useful for presenting household hardware to the customers.