SBIR Phase II: Understanding Science Processes Through Modeling and Animation: Efficiently Producing Low-Cost Software Tools for K-12

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在解决科学教育中的一个需求，这一需求正在非线性地成为一个严重的问题。总体而言，教育技术在对学生在科学领域的理解产生积极影响方面的记录很弱。研究清楚地表明，学生使用科学模拟程序确实对他们的成绩和理解有积极的影响。这样的软件很少，而且可用的模拟是“重量级的”--通常在计算、财务、课程和认知方面都要求很高。GoKnow AniModeler软件工厂旨在演示如何建立一个软件工厂，该工厂可以提供36个轻量级科学模拟，每个学生每年1美元！在我们的第一阶段SBIR工作中，该公司将开发基于AniModeler模拟引擎的面向对象的体系结构。他们在第二阶段的挑战是构建一个利用该体系结构的工厂系统，以便创建一个模拟程序？AniModeler？由科学教育工作者完成，无需任何程序员帮助，它会自动输出5个操作系统的版本。支持移动和轻量级应用程序等消费者功能是软件开发的未来。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力面向所有利益相关者：(1)与填写工作表等活动不同，在与同龄人合作使用GoKnow的AniModelers时，学生将把科学视为一种社交活动，由了解如何以及为什么？而不是一种枯燥的单独活动。学生们将把科学视为一项有趣的活动--成功地理解一些东西是如何运行的以及为什么是一种好的？好玩吗？感觉。(2)教师将看到轻量级、易学易用、关注范围狭窄的应用程序？就像他们智能手机上的应用程序一样-与昂贵且功能丰富的典型教育软件相比，更容易整合到他们现有的课程中，因为后者需要花费大量的课堂时间来学习。(3)教育工作者将看到，教育软件不一定要花很多钱，而且开源也不是唯一的选择。(4)科学出版商将把教育软件视为对其印刷产品价值的积极贡献--特别是当他们从软件中赚钱的时候。(5)最后但同样重要的是，AniModelers可以向软件开发人员演示教育软件可以是一项有利可图的业务！

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to address a need in science education that is non-linearly becoming a serious problem. In general, educational technology has had a weak track record for positively impacting student understanding in the area of science. Research clearly suggests that students' use of science simulation programs does have a positive impact on their achievement and understanding. There is a dearth of such software, and the simulations that are available are ?heavyweight? - typically computationally, financially, curricularly, and cognitively demanding. The GoKnow AniModeler Software Factory seeks to demonstrate how to build a software factory that can deliver 36, lightweight science simulations for $1 per student per year! During our Phase I SBIR effort, the company will develop the object-oriented architecture underlying the AniModeler simulation engine. Their challenge in Phase II is to build a factory system that exploits that architecture such that the creation of a simulation program ? an AniModeler ? is done by a science educator without any programmer assistance and it outputs, automatically with versions for 5 operating systems. Supporting consumer functionality such as, mobile and lightweight applications are the future of software development.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project addresses the full range of stakeholders: (1) In contrast to activities such as filling out worksheets, in using GoKnow's AniModelers in collaboration with their peers, students will see science as a social activity, sparked by a desire to understand how and why?not as a boring, solitary activity. Students will see science as a fun activity- successfully understanding how and why something works is a good ? fun ? feeling. (2) Teachers will see that lightweight, easy-to-learn-to-use, narrowly focused apps ? just like the apps on their smartphones - are much easier to integrate into their existing curriculum when compared with typical educational software that is expensive and so profusely functional that it takes excessive class time to learn. (3) Educators will see that educational software doesn't necessarily need to cost an arm and a leg, and that Open Source is not the only alternative. (4) Science publishers will see educational software as positively contributing to the value of their print offerings - especially when they make money from the software. (5) And, last but surely not least, AniModelers can demonstrate to software developers that educational software can be a lucrative business!