Examining Embedded Scaffolds in a Video Game to Support STEM Learning and Efficacy for Middle School Students

这个项目的目标是在一个基于视频游戏的学习环境中，设计、实现和研究两种嵌入式支架的使用，基于交互的支架和基于资源的支架。采用准实验的前后设计来考察这两种支架以及无支架治疗组对中学生STEM学习、问题解决和兴趣的影响。虽然现在有许多电子游戏都是出于教育目的而开发的，但我们却很少知道如何有效地设计和使用嵌入式支架来支持这些环境中的学习。这项研究将有助于该领域对如何有效地设计和使用嵌入式支架来支持中学生学习STEM和其他类似复杂主题的理解。提供设计良好的视频游戏，有效地支持学习，有可能增加高质量STEM材料的可访问性，这些材料既支持学习，也支持内容领域的兴趣。

The goal of this project is to design, implement, and research the use of two types of embedded scaffolds, interactive-based scaffolds and resource-based scaffolds, within a video game-based learning environment. A quasi-experimental, pre-post design will be used to examine the impact of these two types of scaffolds, as well a no scaffold treatment group, on middle school students' STEM learning, problem solving, and interest.While a wide range of video games are now being developed for educational purposes, very little is known about how to effectively design and use embedded scaffolds to support learning within these environments. This research will contribute to the field's understanding of how to effectively design and use embedded scaffolds to support middle school students as they learn about STEM and other similarly complex topics. Providing well-designed video games that effectively support learning has the potential to increase the accessibility of high quality STEM materials that support both learning and interest in the content areas.