Digital WAVE: Warming Winds and Water

迈阿密科学博物馆（MSM）正在与迈阿密大学罗森斯蒂尔海洋与大气科学学院（RSMAS）和迈阿密戴德学院（MDC）合作，实施数字波，这是一项ITEST战略项目，将设计、实施和调查新兴3D网络的使用，以激发人们对信息和通信技术的兴趣。透过制作与全球变暖现象有关的3D虚拟模拟，该计划将创造和测试一种新的模式和媒介，以吸引和培养年轻人从事资讯科技密集的科学事业。参与的高中生将对气候学和热带天气动力学领域的技术应用有更深入的了解，这是一个与他们生活相关的话题。项目活动包括培养学生在3D可视化和计算机动画方面的计算机图形技能，并有机会与气候科学家和其他STEM专业人员互动。由Digital WAVE参与者创建的虚拟世界展览将驻留在Teen Second Life上，向所有TSL访客开放。该项目将直接为迈阿密科学博物馆目标区域的120名10-12年级学生提供服务，其中大多数是海地人或西班牙裔，有资格享受免费或减免午餐，并且将是他们家庭中第一个上大学的学生。来自博物馆整体青年发展项目的九年级学生也将参与该项目的STEM职业路径部分。每年，40名学生将参加迈阿密戴德学院（Miami Dade College）为期14节的周六设计工作室（Saturday Design Studio），学习先进的数字设计技能，包括3D平面设计和电脑动画。然后，他们将参加为期四周的暑期学院，在此期间，他们将与经验丰富的虚拟世界展品制造商一起制作一系列科学丰富的虚拟世界展品。该学院的STEM内容将侧重于气候变化对南佛罗里达州热带环境的影响，为参与者提供一个丰富的科学背景，让他们可以应用他们的新技能。在探索珊瑚礁白化、飓风加剧和海平面上升等主题时，学生将与真正的科学家互动，获得对正在进行的研究项目、使用的工具、数字技术和数据集以及相关职业的第一手见解。学生们的最终产品将在名为“青少年第二人生”的在线虚拟世界环境中发布，从而形成可能惠及全球数千名青少年的教育资源。该项目旨在增加学生对气候学、海洋科学、3D平面设计和电脑动画等相关职业道路的认识；增加他们对基本气候学和海洋科学概念的理解；并帮助他们发展参与和贡献虚拟世界和模拟环境所必需的技能。如提案中所述，该项目的总体评估问题基于三个领域：a)与环境科学和技术相关的STEM学习；b)学习与这些科目相关的STEM职业道路；c)与先进技术和IT设计技能相关的学习，用于为STEM学习创建虚拟世界和模拟环境。

The Miami Science Museum (MSM) is collaborating with the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) and Miami Dade College (MDC), to implement Digital WAVE, an ITEST Strategies project that will design, implement and investigate use of the emerging 3D Web to stimulate interest in information and communication technologies. Through the fabrication of 3D virtual simulations related to global warming phenomena, the project will create and test a new model and medium for engaging and preparing youth to pursue IT-intensive science careers. Participating high school students will develop a deeper understanding of the intensive use of technology in the field of climatology and tropical weather dynamics, a topic relevant to their lives. Project activities include the development of students' computer graphic skills in 3D visualization and computer animation and opportunities to interact with climate scientists and other STEM professionals. The virtual world exhibits created by Digital WAVE participants will reside on Teen Second Life, opening access to all TSL visitors. The project will directly serve a total of one hundred and twenty 10-12th grade students from the Miami Science Museum target area, most of whom are of Haitian or Hispanic ethnicity, qualify for free or reduced lunch and would be the first in their family to attend college. Ninth grade students from the Museum's overall youth development programs will also be involved in the STEM career pathway component of the project. Each year, 40 students will participate in a 14-session Saturday Design Studio at Miami Dade College to acquire advanced digital design skills, including 3D graphic design and computer animation. They will then take part in a four-week summer Academy during which they will work with an experienced virtual world exhibit fabricators to create a series of science-rich virtual world exhibits. The STEM content for the Academy will focus on the impacts of climate change on South Florida's tropical environment, providing a science-rich context in which participants can apply their new skills. As they explore such topics as coral reef bleaching, hurricane intensification and sea level rise, students will interact with real scientists, gaining first-hand insights into ongoing research projects, the tools, digital technologies and datasets used, and the associated careers. Students' final products will be launched in the online virtual world environment know as Teen Second Life, resulting in educational resources that can potentially reach thousands of teens worldwide. The project expects to increase students' knowledge of career pathways related to climatology, marine science, 3D graphic design and computer animation; increase their understanding of basic climatology and marine science concepts; and help them develop the skills necessary to participate in and contribute to virtual worlds and simulated environments. The overarching evaluation questions for the project, as stated in the proposal, are anchored in three domains: a) STEM learning as it is related to environmental science, and technology; b) learning about STEM career paths related to these subjects; and c) learning related to advanced technology and IT design skills used to create virtual world and simulated environments for STEM learning.