SBIR Phase I: Mission: Planet Y--A Game-based Tool for Middle School Science Learning

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在创建一个视频游戏，它使用当代3D游戏引擎技术，并将嵌入式，基于表现的学生技能评估，教师报告和教师管理工具的功能。 该游戏将模拟现实世界，复杂的问题解决环境，并为学生提供承担科学家的角色的能力，在生态系统的虚拟模拟中进行调查，从各种来源收集数据，分析数据，并制定解决复杂问题的计划。 科学和游戏专家，教育工作者，家长和学生将告知第一阶段的研究。 这款游戏将是对现有教育软件内容及其学习和评估设计的重大创新。 利用认知科学研究中已知的最好的东西作为基础，游戏将最大限度地提高学生的学习参与度。 目前的教育软件使用中断游戏的评估;在拟议的软件中，评估将在隐形模式下连续发生。 换句话说，学生将不知道正在进行的评估，并保持专注于科学活动。2001年《不让一个孩子掉队法》的要求将推动国家对教授学生科学技能的工具的需求，包括研究和解决问题。 使命：Planet Y将为电子课程资源提供一个模型，以创造高水平的学生兴趣，动机和中学科学学习。 中学生使用使命：Y星球-男性和女性，有特殊需要的人，以及有天赋的人-将提高他们的科学技能，内容知识和兴趣，这些都将反映在州和国家考试以及科学课的参与中。 为中学科学开发的游戏引擎技术可以修改为其他学科领域和年级级别的软件。 第一阶段的研究将考虑对个别家庭和学校的销售能力。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to create a video game, which uses contemporary 3D game engine technology, and will incorporate capabilities for embedded, performance-based student skills assessment, teacher reporting, and teacher administration tools. The game will simulate real-world, complex problem-solving contexts, and offer students the ability to assume the role of a scientist performing investigations within virtual simulations of ecosystems, gathering data from a variety of sources, analyzing the data, and developing a plan for solving the complex problem. Science and gaming experts, educators, parents, and students will inform the Phase I research. The game will be a significant innovation in terms of the content of the educational software currently available and its learning and assessment design. Using the best of what is known from cognitive science research as a basis, the game will maximize student engagement in learning. Current educational software uses assessments that interrupt game play; in the proposed software, assessment will occur continuously in stealth mode. In other words, students will be unaware of ongoing assessment and remain focused on the science activities.The requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 will drive national demand for tools to teach students science skills, including research and problem solving. Mission: Planet Y will provide a model for electronic curricular resources that create a high level of student interest, motivation, and learning in middle school science. Middle school students using Mission: Planet Y--males and females, those with special needs, and the gifted and talented--will enhance their science skills, content knowledge, and interest in ways that will be reflected on state and national tests and in science class participation. The game engine technology developed for middle school science can be modified to create software for other subject areas and grade levels. Phase I research will consider the marketability to individual households, as well as to schools.