Using Technology to Transform Teaching and Learning: Data-Driven Inquiry and Collaborative Learning in Introductory Astronomy

天文学(11)这个项目扩大了数据驱动的互动练习和模拟的开发，用于协作学习环境，几乎涵盖了天文学入门的所有主题领域。其动机是a)利用天文学与生俱来的参与性作为工具，将研究融入课程，将被动的讲授模式转变为强调科学过程和方法的主动学习系统，b)明确地创造一个学生团队解决问题和分析数据的协作学习环境，以及c)为科学学习提供更多的参与性界面，使其成为未来K-12科学教师的有效招聘工具。这些目标可以通过在Web浏览器环境中运行的基于真实天文数据集的BUST软件的开发来实现。该小组以前在这个项目上的工作已经产生了其中一些学习工具。对该工作的评估和评价表明，方法是合理的。新的目标将通过进一步的软件开发和在当地课堂上的Beta测试来实现。这将涉及四个不同校区每年约700名学生。这项工作的总体目标是让学生接触科学方法，让他们参与到科学的实际实践中，并培养他们出色的合作技能。这些结果将比目前构成教育学的死记硬背教学大纲材料的传统模式更好地服务于学生。

Astronomy (11) This project expands development of data-driven interactive exercises andsimulations for use in a collaborative learning environment to cover virtually all topicareas in introductory Astronomy. The motivation is to a) use the naturally engagingcharacter of Astronomy as a vehicle to promote science literacy by integrating researchinto the curriculum to transform the passive lecture mode into an active learning systemthat emphasizes scientific process and methodology, b) explicitly create a collaborativelearning environment where student teams solve problems and analyze data and c) offer amore engaging interface to science learning so that it becomes an effective recruiting toolfor future K-12 science teachers. These goals can be accomplished by the development ofrobust software, based on real astronomical data sets, that runs in the Web browserenvironment. Previous work by the team on this project has already produced some of these learning tools.Assessment and evaluation of that effort shows that the methodology is sound.New objectives will be accomplished via further software development and beta-testingin local classes. This will involve approximately 700 studentsannually on four different campuses. The overall goals of this effort are for the studentsto be exposed to science methodology by engaging them in the actual practice of scienceand for them to develop excellent collaboration skills. These outcomes will serve thestudents far better than the traditional mode of rote memorization of syllabus-drivenmaterial that currently constitutes the pedagogy.