SBIR Phase I: Agent-based Simulation and Modeling Over the World Wide Web

认为计算机是一种教育工具，强调学习者和计算机之间的单独互动。然而，将计算机重新定义为一种建构主义的媒介——即用于交流的工具和功能的集合——通过允许学习者社区的发展和支持，增加了它潜在的教育价值。Agentsheets是一个基于代理的图形电子表格环境，允许广泛的用户创建模拟城市（TM），如交互式模拟，面向领域的可视化编程环境，游戏和细胞自动机。这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目来自Agentsheets， Inc.，计划使用经过课堂测试的Agentsheets技术来创建和共享交互式模拟和虚拟世界，这些模拟和虚拟世界结合了学生的创作、真实世界的硬件和万维网资源，从而通过虚拟实验和用户驱动的可视化来满足增强学生学习的需求。第一阶段的中心目标是通过开发一个基于agentsheets的环境（Web行为交换）来证明可行性，该环境让k - 12学生不仅可以构建，还可以通过Web共享和链接教育软件组件。阶段1包括一个原型Exchange自动化服务器的实现。最终的结果应该是一个重要的资源——一个以不断变化的引人注目的学生创作为特色的网络行为交流。该项目提供了一个重新概念，导致了一种新的计算机应用程序，将构建主义活动（例如创建模拟）置于更社会的环境中，在这种环境中，计算机同时提供了学习如何交流的机会，并使交流能够增强学习体验。商业应用不仅包括教育和研究的模拟和建模，还包括游戏，编程工具，以及建筑，医学和数据分析中的虚拟现实应用。

Thinking of a computer as an educational tool emphasizes solitary interaction between the learner and the computer. Reconceptualizing the computer, however, as a constructionist medium--that is, a collection of tools and capabilities that are used to communicate--increases it potential educational value by allowing the development and support of communities of learners. Agentsheets is an agent-based graphical spreadsheet environment that lets a wide range of users create SiMCity(TM) like interactive simulations, domain-oriented visual programming environments, games and cellular automata. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project from Agentsheets, Inc. plans to use classroom-tested Agentsheets technology to create and share interactive simulations and virtual worlds that combine student creations, real-world hardware, and World Wide Web resources, thus addressing the need for enhanced student learning through virtual experimentation and user-driven visualization. The central Phase I objective is to demonstrate feasibility by developing an Agentsheets-based environment (the Web Behavior Exchange) that lets K-1 2 students not only construct, but also share and link educational software components over the Web. Phase I includes the implementation of a prototype Exchange automated server. The end result should be a significant resource--a Web Behavior Exchange featuring a changing set of compelling student creations. The project proffers a reconceptualization leading to a new class of computer applications that place constructionist activities, such as creating a simulation, within a more social context in which computers simultaneously provide opportunities for learning how to communicate as well as for enabling communication to enhance the learning experience. Commercial applications include not only simulations and modeling for education and research, but also for games, programming tools, and virtual reality applications in architecture, medicine, and data analysis.