Think Globally, Interact Locally: Advancing Science Learning using Interactive Spherical Displays to Model Global, Physical Systems

各种技术应用和人类用户之间的联系在非正式学习中无处不在，并对技术如何使用和学习如何进行了大量假设。 这个领域的大部分研究都集中在游戏设计和交互上。 这个项目将研究这种互动，涉及使用手势，代表个人如何与系统和大型数据集，代表复杂的系统，如海洋，了解一个项目的基本要素如何与一个3-D类型的设计可能会增强用户体验，并通过理解这些游戏的认知元素来增加实用性和学习，例如在特定的STEM相关设置中的交互这个探索性的路径项目将研究如何使用交互式的、支持手势的、多点触摸的球体来教授科学中心和博物馆中的海洋系统。该项目的手势启用方面将改进交互式桌面安装，这可能会使使用意外手势的用户感到沮丧，并且没有收到任何响应，导致短暂的交互和放弃，而没有显著的交互或学习。该项目将研究不受支持的手势仍然会产生系统响应的方式，这将鼓励用户留在安装并继续调查。 通过使用手势之间的自然映射和与球体上数据的交互，将支持多个手势的效果。该项目研究了具身认知的理论，这些理论支持这样一种观点，即通过在球形显示器上使用全球规模的数据集，可以更有效地以非扭曲的方式对地球进行建模，因此将更加自然，并允许用户开发一个更准确的概念模型，以了解数据如何与自身和地球仪相关。通过这种方式，该项目分享了对通过游戏学习的一些理解。该项目由推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）项目资助，旨在推进非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和开发的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径，以扩大获得和参与STEM学习经验，推进非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及发展参与者对深入学习的理解。

The connections between technology applications of all sorts and human users that are ubiquitous in informal learning and assume a great deal about how the technology is used and how learning takes place. Much of the research in this area has been focused on game design and interaction. This project will examine this interaction involving the use of gestures that represent how individuals work with systems and large data sets that represent complex systems like the oceans, to understand how basic elements of a project with a 3-D type of design might enhance the user experience and increase the utility and learning that takes place by understanding the cognitive elements of these game like interactions in specific STEM related settings like museums.This exploratory pathways project will investigate the use of interactive, gesture-enabled, multi-touch spheres for teaching about ocean systems in science centers and museums. The gesture-enabled aspect of the project will improve on interactive table-top installations which can frustrate users who use unexpected gestures and receive no response leading to brief interaction and abandonment without significant interaction or learning. The project will investigate ways in which unsupported gestures would still produce a system response which would encourage the user to remain at the installation and continue to investigate. The effect of multiple gestures will be supported by using natural mappings between gestures and interactions with the on-sphere data. The project investigates theories of embodied cognition that support the notion that by engaging with global-scale datasets on a spherical display more effectively models the earth in a non-distorted manner and therefore will be more natural and allow users to develop a more accurate conceptual model of how data relates to itself and the globe. In this way, the project shares some aspects of understanding about learning through game play. The sphere will not be a fully developed game but will share characteristics of game play.This project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants.