Promoting 21st Century Science Technology-Enhanced Learning Across Formal and Informal Environments

本项目调查了中小学生的信息技术技能、他们在针对这些技能设计的探究式海洋科学课程中的成功程度以及他们对21世纪科学新特征的理解之间的关系。它关注的是课程的设计及其对高数字素养学生和低数字素养学生的影响。它还考察了学生对各种课程要素的参与情况，以及他们对科学主题的概念性理解、对科学本质的信念和理解以及数字素养技能的发展情况。该项目创建了新的测量技术，用于理解学生带到课堂上的技术技能、他们遇到的科学课程、他们对科学本质的理解以及他们的“数字素养”之间的关系。该项目旨在开发一种数字技能评估工具，以捕捉学生在与虚拟环境合作、使用社交信息和发展计算技能方面的行动。调查人员将对学生访谈、课堂观察和学生实地考察对话的录像和录音进行分析。分析将得出基于课堂的学习和基于实地学习之间的联系。该研究将衡量学生对ITEST计划所期望的科学学习和科学职业的认识论承诺的变化；也就是说，学生是否增加了他们的信念，即他们有能力学习科学材料，因为它是在自然界中发现的，并在课堂上呈现的。

This project investigates the relationship between elementary-secondary students information technology skills, their success in an inquiry ocean science curriculum designed to target those skills, and their understanding of the new characteristics of 21st century science. It is concerned with the design of a curriculum and its impact on students of high compared with low digital literacy. It also examines student engagement with the various curriculum elements and their progress with conceptual understanding of science topics, belief and understandings about the nature of science, and growth of digital literacy skills.The project creates new measurement techniques for understanding the relationship between technology skills that students bring with them to the classroom, the science curriculum they encounter, their understandings of the nature of science, and their "digital literacy." The project intends to develop a digital skills assessment tool to capture student action in collaborating with virtual environments, using social information, and developing skills with computing.The investigators will conduct an analysis of video and audio recordings of student interviews, classroom observations, and field-trip conversations of students. The analysis will draw associations between class-based learning and field trip-based learning. The study will measure changes in students' epistemic commitment to learning science and science careers as intended by the ITEST program; that is, do the students increase their belief that they are capable of learning the science material as it is found in nature and presented in class.