STTR Phase I: A Simulated Anaerobic Digester Learning Tool

这个SBIR第一期项目建议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，教关于平衡人，地球和利润的可持续商业实践的“三重底线”的新经济模式。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，作为教育的动力和驱动力。目前还没有适合中学生使用的精确的厌氧消化模拟器。目前已有的厌氧消化模型，如厌氧消化模型1 (ADM1)，是由大学研究人员使用的，涉及的计算和数学复杂性超出了中学生的掌握。项目的第一阶段包括简化模型的复杂性，同时保持其准确性，以创造一款吸引中学生的游戏。模拟厌氧消化器学习工具的更广泛/商业影响是：1)学习工具与当前科学教育改革相一致。新一代科学标准，基于国家研究委员会的K-12科学教育框架，需要更多地使用现实世界的主题，这些主题只能通过借鉴许多科学学科的思想和方法才能理解。在现实世界中，通过厌氧消化产生沼气是复杂和跨学科的，因此是STEM学习的绝佳载体。2)该游戏结合了对性别包容性的研究以及对社会和伦理问题的探索，其发展将包括传统上代表性不足的学生。beta测试将在一个高需求的农村学区和一个高需求的城市学区的高中教室进行，该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减价午餐。3)从商业角度来看，这款游戏具有巨大的潜力，可以在中学和高等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、可持续发展和农业等跨学科课程。

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.