CAREER: Embedded Computing and Authentic Inquiry in Middle School Science

职业：中学科学中的嵌入式计算和真实探究

• 批准号: 0546513
• 负责人: Fred Martin
• 金额: $ 59.99万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-10-01 至 2012-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0546513&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Embedded; Computing; Authentic; Inquiry

Since its inception, scientific inquiry has been based on the materials, tools, and equipment that scientists procure and develop for their research. Beginning in the 1980s with microcomputer-based laboratories, schools have introduced such equipment. This new technology, however, has often been employed in the fashion of much school science laboratory work, where students perform measurement-confirmation experiments rather than deep inquiry-based investigations. Over the last ten years, the use of classroom robotics has become prevalent across the K-12 grade levels. Much of this robotics work exhibits the characteristics of inquiry-based science: students are highly engaged as they frame problems, experiment, debug problems, and pursue solutions. Why is classroom robotics successful in inspiring students to take charge of their work, while classroom science has trouble getting students' attention?The key is that agency is in the hands of students. Providing capable, extensible and inviting technology to teachers and students is also important. This project will use and extend research technology - the Handy Cricket microcontroller - with the goal of characterizing and then providing materials that can be readily assimilated into authentic inquiry-based work by teachers and students. The project includes research and development components. The PI will investigate how beginning and practicing middle school science teachers perform their own inquiry-based science experiments, reflect on and make sense of their own experiences, and then bring these approaches to their students. Subsequently, how these teachers' students practice science inquiry using Crickets and what they learn will be studied, and compared with the practices and learning of students in control classrooms. The project will create deep linkages between computing science and middle school science content, and develop improved technology for widespread classroom use.The PI will collaborate closely with faculty and staff of his university's graduate school of education, and will co-teach sections of science methods courses required of the student-teachers in its program. These individuals and other teachers who participate in professional development workshops will be invited to be involved in classroom trials using project materials and approaches. The development plan includes an international component, extending the PI's previous collaborations with leading educator/researchers in Ireland and Germany. The project's intellectual merit stems from its goal of understanding and promoting authentic science inquiry by teachers and students, and creating deep connections between computing and middle school science. Its potential for broader impact is based on its practical, classroom-based approach, which will ensure materials and pedagogical strategies that can be employed widely.

自成立以来，科学探究一直基于科学家为研究而采购和开发的材料，工具和设备。从1980年代开始，学校采用了微型计算机实验室。然而，这项新技术经常被用于学校科学实验室的工作，学生们进行测量确认实验，而不是基于深入探究的调查。在过去的十年中，课堂机器人的使用在K-12年级已经变得普遍。大部分机器人工作都表现出基于探究的科学的特点：学生在构建问题、实验、调试问题和寻求解决方案时高度参与。为什么课堂机器人成功地激励学生负责他们的工作，而课堂科学却很难吸引学生的注意力？关键是，代理权掌握在学生手中。为教师和学生提供有能力、可扩展和有吸引力的技术也很重要。该项目将使用和扩展研究技术-Handy Cricket微控制器-其目标是表征然后提供可以容易地被教师和学生吸收到真实的基于探究的工作中的材料。该项目包括研究和开发部分。PI将调查开始和实践中学科学教师如何执行自己的探究式科学实验，反思和理解自己的经验，然后把这些方法带给学生。随后，这些教师的学生如何实践科学探究使用蟋蟀和他们学到了什么将被研究，并与控制教室的学生的实践和学习进行比较。该项目将在计算科学和中学科学内容之间建立深刻的联系，并为广泛的课堂使用开发改进的技术。PI将与他的大学教育研究生院的教师和工作人员密切合作，并将在其项目中共同教授学生教师所需的科学方法课程。这些个人和其他教师谁参加专业发展研讨会将被邀请参与课堂试验使用项目材料和方法。该发展计划包括一个国际组成部分，扩大了PI与爱尔兰和德国领先的教育家/研究人员的合作。该项目的智力价值源于其理解和促进教师和学生的真实科学探究的目标，并在计算和中学科学之间建立深刻的联系。其产生更广泛影响的潜力是基于其实用的、以课堂为基础的方法，这将确保材料和教学战略可以广泛采用。