Integrating Computational Thinking and Environmental Science: Design Based Research on Using Simulated Ecosystems to Improve Student Understanding of Complex System Behavior

生态系统中的计算思维(CT-E)项目由STEM+计算伙伴关系(STEM+C)计划资助，该计划旨在促进STEM教与学中计算整合的新方法和基于证据的理解。该项目是纽约科学馆(NYSCI)、哥伦比亚大学国际地球科学信息网络中心和设计I/O之间的合作项目。它将通过开发和测试发生在生态系统内以及自然和人类耦合系统之间的相互作用的便携式、基于计算机的模拟来解决年轻人对提高数据、建模和计算能力的需求；需要计算思维技能才能在模拟中进一步发展。在NYSCI的一台平板电脑上，每个参与者都将收到一套虚拟“卡片”，要求他们输入计算机命令、程序或算法，以控制模拟生态系统中动物的行为。随着参与者探索动物的模拟栖息地，他们将学习动物生存所需的越来越复杂的策略，将使用生态学家用来模拟复杂、动态生态系统的类似计算想法和技能，并将对他们和其他参与者通过与模拟环境互动而引发的生态系统变化的影响做出反应。通过整合计算来了解生物系统内物种之间的相互作用的这种方法的研究，有可能促进知识的发展。研究人员将研究类似于流行的可收藏纸牌游戏格式的模拟如何改善计算思维，并更好地为STEM学习者随着他们的学术和职业抱负的发展而对环境科学领域产生兴趣和提高知识做好准备。该项目还将设计和开发一种编写复杂模型程序的实用方法，并在年轻人社区中培养技能，以锻炼他们在学习复杂系统中的建模和行为方面的能力；加深年轻人对如何努力实现可持续解决方案、解决复杂工程问题以及更好地准备应对复杂的全球社会挑战的学习。生态系统中的计算思维(CT-E)将使用一项基于设计的研究来原型和测试这种新颖的、基于平板电脑的可收集纸牌游戏般的干预措施，以开发中学科学中的创新实践。通过这种方法，通过将计算思维注入生命科学学习，将解决下一代科学标准中教学实践的一些最重要的挑战。CT-E将开发一个基于平板电脑的模拟，代表六个动态的、相互关联的生态系统，学生在其中控制生物的行为，以干预栖息地，以实现目标，并对其栖息地和所在生态系统健康状况的变化做出反应。模拟中生物的行为是通过虚拟的可收集的“卡片”来控制的，每一张卡片代表一个计算过程(如序列、循环、变量、条件和事件)。游戏涉及玩家选择生物和栖息地，制定策略，并在该栖息地使用战术(如寻找食物、挖地、引水或移走或种植植被)对该生物进行编程，以在该栖息地导航并生存。参与者选择的栖息地是特定类型的生物群落(如沙漠、热带雨林、沼泽和平原)的一部分，这些生物群落具有自己独特的植物、动物和气候。由于环境代表着复杂的动态相互关联的环境模型，参与者面临着探索这些模型如何工作的挑战，并测试关于环境将如何响应他们的生物干预的假设；也测试环境将如何响应其他玩家的生物，因为多个参与者可以合作或竞争，类似于商业可收集的纸牌游戏(例如，Magic和Yu-Go-oh！)。NYSCI将进行基于参与性设计的研究，以确定对结构化和非结构化学习环境的影响，以及它是否克服了学习复杂环境科学的障碍。

The Computational Thinking in Ecosystems (CT-E) project is funded by the STEM+Computing Partnership (STEM+C) program, which seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the integration of computing in STEM teaching and learning. The project is a collaboration between the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network, and Design I/O. It will address the need for improved data, modeling and computational literacy in young people through development and testing of a portable, computer-based simulation of interactions that occur within ecosystems and between coupled natural and human systems; computational thinking skills are required to advance farther in the simulation. On a tablet computer at NYSCI, each participant will receive a set of virtual "cards" that require them to enter a computer command, routine or algorithm to control the behavior of animals within a simulated ecosystem. As participants explore the animals' simulated habitat, they will learn increasingly more complex strategies needed for the animal's survival, will use similar computational ideas and skills that ecologists use to model complex, dynamic ecological systems, and will respond to the effects of the ecosystem changes that they and other participants elicit through interaction with the simulated environment. Research on this approach to understanding interactions among species within biological systems through integration of computing has potential to advance knowledge. Researchers will study how simulations that are similar to popular collectable card game formats can improve computational thinking and better prepare STEM learners to take an interest in, and advance knowledge in, the field of environmental science as their academic and career aspirations evolve. The project will also design and develop a practical approach to programing complex models, and develop skills in communities of young people to exercise agency in learning about modeling and acting within complex systems; deepening learning in young people about how to work toward sustainable solutions, solve complex engineering problems and be better prepared to address the challenges of a complex, global society. Computational Thinking in the Ecosystems (CT-E) will use a design-based study to prototype and test this novel, tablet-based collectable card game-like intervention to develop innovative practices in middle school science. Through this approach, some of the most significant challenges to teaching practice in the Next Generation Science Standards will be addressed, through infusing computational thinking into life science learning. CT-E will develop a tablet-based simulation representing six dynamic, interconnected ecosystems in which students control the behaviors of creatures to intervene in habitats to accomplish goals and respond to changes in the health of their habitat and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Behaviors of creatures in the simulation are controlled through the virtual collectable "cards", with each representing a computational process (such as sequences, loops, variables, conditionals and events). Gameplay involves individual players choosing a creature and habitat, formulating strategies and programming that creature with tactics in that habitat (such as finding food, digging in the ground, diverting water, or removing or planting vegetation) to navigate that habitat and survive. Habitats chosen by the participant are part of particular kinds of biomes (such as desert, rain forest, marshlands and plains) that have their own characteristic flora, fauna, and climate. Because the environments represent complex dynamic interconnected environmental models, participants are challenged to explore how these models work, and test hypotheses about how the environment will respond to their creature's interventions; but also to the creatures of other players, since multiple participants can collaborate or compete similar to commercially available collectable card games (e.g., Magic and Yu-Go-Oh!). NYSCI will conduct participatory design based research to determine impacts on structured and unstructured learning settings and whether it overcomes barriers to learning complex environmental science.