STTR Phase I: A Simulated Anaerobic Digester Learning Tool

STTR 第一阶段：模拟厌氧消化器学习工具

• 批准号: 1346376
• 负责人: Sara Silverstone
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: BioDrill Technical Solutions, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1346376&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Simulated; Anaerobic; Digester

This SBIR Phase I project proposes to create an innovative educational game that engages secondary school students in learning about the science of anaerobic digestion and the business of biogas production. The Simulated Anaerobic Digester Learning Tool is a casual, simulation-based game that teaches students about the physicochemical operation of an anaerobic digester, as well as an entrepreneurial game that teaches about the new economic model of the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable business practice of balancing the concerns of people, the planet, and profit. This innovative game experience meets the growing need for real-world interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) problems as a motivational and driving force for education. There are no existing accurate anaerobic digestion simulators that are accessible to secondary school students. Currently existing models of anaerobic digestion, such as Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1), are used by researchers at universities, and involve computational and mathematical complexity beyond the grasp of secondary school students. Phase I of the project involves simplifying the complexity of the model while retaining its accuracy in the creation of an engaging game for secondary school students. The broader/commercial impact of The Simulated Anaerobic Digester Learning Tool are: 1) The Learning Tool is aligned with current reforms in science education. The new Next Generation Science Standards, based on the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education necessitate the increased use of real-world topics that can be made comprehensible only by drawing on ideas and methods from many scientific disciplines. Biogas generation through anaerobic digestion is complex and interdisciplinary in a real world context and thus is an excellent vehicle for STEM learning. 2) The game incorporates research into gender inclusiveness and exploration of social and ethical issues, and its development will include traditionally underrepresented students. Beta-testing will take place in high school classrooms of a high-needs rural school district and a high-need urban school district with an 86% minority population and a 49% graduation rate, in which 88.4% of students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunches. 3) Commercially, the game has tremendous potential to be marketed in a variety of science courses in both secondary and post-secondary education, including Biology and Environmental Science as well as interdisciplinary courses in Integrated STEM, Sustainability, and Agriculture.

SBIR第一阶段项目旨在创建一个创新的教育游戏，让中学生学习厌氧消化科学和沼气生产业务。模拟厌氧消化器学习工具是一个休闲的，基于模拟的游戏，教学生关于厌氧消化器的物理化学操作，以及一个创业游戏，教关于“三重底线”的可持续商业实践的新经济模式，平衡人，地球和利润的关注。这种创新的游戏体验满足了对现实世界跨学科科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）问题日益增长的需求，作为教育的激励和推动力。目前还没有准确的厌氧消化模拟器可供中学生使用。目前现有的厌氧消化模型，如厌氧消化模型1（ADM 1），是由大学的研究人员使用，涉及计算和数学的复杂性超出了中学生的掌握。该项目的第一阶段涉及简化模型的复杂性，同时保留其准确性，为中学生创造一个引人入胜的游戏。模拟厌氧消化器学习工具的更广泛/商业影响是：1）学习工具与当前的科学教育改革相一致。 新的下一代科学标准，基于国家研究理事会的K-12科学教育框架，需要更多地使用现实世界的主题，只有通过借鉴许多科学学科的思想和方法才能理解。在真实的世界背景下，通过厌氧消化产生沼气是复杂的和跨学科的，因此是STEM学习的绝佳工具。 2)该游戏结合了对性别包容性的研究以及对社会和道德问题的探索，其开发将包括传统上代表性不足的学生。Beta测试将在高需求农村学区和高需求城市学区的高中教室进行，这些学区的少数民族人口占86%，毕业率为49%，其中88.4%的学生有资格获得免费或降价午餐。 3)在商业上，该游戏具有巨大的潜力，可以在中学和中学后教育的各种科学课程中推广，包括生物学和环境科学以及综合STEM，可持续发展和农业的跨学科课程。