SBIR Phase II: An Online Professional Development Science Game for Pre-Service and In- Service Teachers

本次SBIR二期项目将增强小学职前教师和在职教师的科学内容知识，提高他们在科学教学中的有效性。研究表明，许多小学教师存在显著缺陷。对科学主题的概念性知识，以及这种对科学理解的缺乏抑制了他们有效教授科学的能力。研究还表明，学生从对所教科目理解能力强的老师那里学到的东西比从对所教内容理解能力弱的老师那里学到的东西多。利用认知心理学、基于游戏的学习和多媒体学习理论的研究，该项目创建了基于问题的场景和内置评估，挑战教师解决问题并确保他们掌握科学原理。通过提高教师素质？对科学的理解，这个项目将因此提高学生的表现，并为学生提供从事科学、工程和技术职业所需的基础知识。越来越多的年轻人进入科技领域，不仅对进入这些职业的个人有影响，而且对整个国家也有影响。美国的生产力、竞争力和税基，因为科学技术是美国经济创新和增长的关键驱动力。该产品是一个基于网络的学习系统，由一套基于探究的活动组成，旨在(a)加强职前和在职小学教师的科学知识，(b)提高他们对科学教学的信心和热情。为了激励学习者，该产品包括一个总体科幻叙事与引人入胜的3D艺术以及基于游戏的科学学习活动。所有科学内容都符合《下一代科学标准》以及课程重点，并为学习者提供有关其科学理解的即时和易于获取的数据，包括程序和概念。由于学习者被叙事和互动科学实验所吸引，他们较少关注作为教学工具的干预和他们在科学理解方面的不足。在参与过程中，学习者被精心地搭建了6个难度等级，并根据表现无缝地上下移动。此外，学习者还可以在学习过程中获得奖励，以进一步激励他们参与学习。

This SBIR Phase II project will enhance the science content knowledge of elementary school pre-service and in-service teachers and increase their effectiveness in teaching science. Studies show significant deficiencies in many elementary teachers? conceptual knowledge of science topics, and this lack of scientific understanding inhibits their ability to teach science effectively. Research also shows that students learn more from teachers with strong comprehension of the subject matter being taught than from teachers with weak content understanding. Using research from cognitive psychology, game-based learning, and multimedia learning theory, this project creates problem-based scenarios and built-in assessments that challenge teachers to solve problems and ensures that they grasp scientific principles. By improving teachers? understanding of science, this project will therefore improve student performance and give students the foundational knowledge needed to pursue careers not only in science, but also in engineering and technology. Increasing the number of young people entering scientific and technical fields has an impact not only on the individuals entering these professional careers, but also on the nation?s productivity, competitiveness, and tax base since science and technology are key drivers of innovation and growth in the U.S. economy.The product is a Web-based learning system consisting of a suite of inquiry-based activities designed to (a) strengthen the science knowledge of pre-service and in-service elementary teachers and (b) increase their confidence in and enthusiasm for teaching science. To motivate the learner, the product includes an overarching science fiction narrative with engaging 3D art as well as game-based science learning activities. All science content aligns with The Next Generation Science Standards as well as curriculum focal points and provides learners with immediate and easily accessible data on their science understanding, both procedural and conceptual. Because learners become engaged by the narrative and interactive science experiments, they are less focused on the intervention as a teaching instrument and on their deficiencies in scientific understanding. During engagement, learners are carefully scaffolded through 6 levels of difficulty, and move up and down the levels seamlessly based on performance. Also, learners collect rewards along the way to further motivate them to engage.