Evaluation of a Portable Microcomputer-Based Laboratory in Sixth-Grade Science Classes

小行星9312026 激发学生对科学的兴趣和承诺的一个策略是通过将他们带出教室进入实地，让他们积极发现现实。 基于微计算机的实验室（MBL），通常由计算机，传感器，绘图软件和教学材料组成，旨在为学生提供动手学习方法，并已被证明可以提高学生的成绩。 第一阶段小企业创新研究（SBIR）研究的结果建立了超越传统MBL的技术基础，将现有的、最先进的、低成本的、手掌大小的便携式数据采集设备整合到一个新的教育工具中，即地球探测器，一个便携式基于微机的实验室（PMBL），这将允许学生在不直接连接到计算机的情况下收集数据，但允许他们在收集后下载该数据。 第二阶段研究的目标集中在（1）为其他六年级科学教育单元制作地球探测器课件;（2）修改和扩大地球探测器硬件;（3）改进和加强地球探测器软件和相关材料;（4）为理解和有效使用地球探测器系统制作教师教育材料;（5）设计和实施有效的评估程序;（6）进行全国实地测试，让学生群体中代表社会经济和种族多样性的学校参加。 通过提供一个与广泛的课程框架兼容并可在其中使用的教学系统-地球探索者，该项目将力求为学生提供一个机会，使他们受益于通过积极的动手参与来利用学生兴趣的教学战略。 ***

9312026 Frey A strategy for stimulating student interest in and commitment to science is to engage them in active discovery of reality by taking them out of the classroom into the field. Microcomputer- Based Laboratories (MBLs), which typically consist of a computer, sensors, graphing software, and instructional materials, were developed to give students a hands-on learning method and have been shown to improve student performance. Results of the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) study establish the technical basis for going beyond the conventional MBL by integrating existing, state-of-the-art, low-cost, palm-sized, portable data acquisition equipment into a new educational tool, Earth Explorer, a Portable Microcomputer-Based Laboratory (PMBL), which will allow students to collect data without being directly connected to the computer yet permit them to download that data after collection. The objectives of the Phase II study focus on (1) creating Earth Explorer courseware for additional sixth grade science education units; (2) modifying and expanding the Earth Explorer hardware; (3) improving and enhancing the Earth Explorer software and related materials; (4) creating teacher education materials for understanding and effectively using the Earth Explorer system; (5) designing and implementing an effective evaluation process; and (6) conducting a national field test involving schools representing socioeconomic and racial diversity in their student populations. By providing an instructional system, the Earth Explorer, that is compatible with and usable in a broad range of curriculum frameworks, the project will aim to provide an opportunity for students to benefit from instructional strategies which capitalize on student interest through active hands-on participation. ***