SimScientists Human Body Systems: Using Simulations to Foster Integrated Understanding of Complex, Dynamic, Interactive Systems

这个研究和开发项目利用课程模块开发来设计、开发和测试新的网络学习模块，这些模块集成了人体的多个(循环、呼吸和消化)系统。该项目旨在加深高中生物学生的科学内容知识、科学探究技能和基于模型的推理技能。该项目将使用模拟来展示单个系统如何运作，它们如何协同工作，以及这三者的结合如何创建一个动态和反应性的生物系统。预计这一动态系统的介绍将导致对材料的更深入理解，并提高在学生成绩衡量方面的表现。该项目的目标是：1。开发对人类消化系统、循环系统和呼吸系统的综合模拟，使学生能够制定富有成效的探究策略。将模拟嵌入在线教学模块中，当学生面临一系列调查任务时，在线教学模块提供即时、个性化的指导。向学生和教师提供学生在活动中的表现报告。发展后续的在线协作调查，提供差异化的指导，以加强学生的理解，支持迁移和参与科学话语的机会。制定一个基准评估，衡量所有三个身体系统的结果，并向学生和教师报告。发展和部署专业发展，以支持教师使用这些材料。提供新材料的技术质量、可行性和可用性的证据。研究这些材料对复杂科学和三个人体系统整合的研究性学习的影响。在项目结束时，将进行小规模的随机对照试验。该项目以基于模型的学习、认知学习研究和以证据为中心的设计为基础。所有模拟设计都考虑了面向学习的通用设计。评估期间提出的问题包括：项目是否按计划进行？这些模块是否可用？用户满意吗？这些模块在典型的高中环境中是否按预期使用？这是否改善了关键内容的教与学？主要的研究人员是WestEd；美国科学促进会是合作伙伴，来自附近学校的三名教师担任共同开发人员。该项目有一名外部评估员和一个强有力的咨询委员会。该项目将创建多层次的教学网络模块。这些模块将包含嵌入式评估，为学生和教师提供即时和个性化的指导。专业发展还将为教师提供工具和指导，以增加他们对人体系统的学习。传播战略包括在WestEd获奖网站上展示模块，以及向期刊和国家会议提交学术论文，目标是科学教育工作者和教育研究人员。由于这些模块补充了课堂课程并使用了在线技术，它们可能被用来教授数百万高中生物学生。

This research and development project leverages curricular module development to design, develop, and test new cyberlearning modules that integrate multiple (circulation, respiration, and digestion) systems of the human body. The project aims to deepen science content knowledge, science inquiry skills, and model-based reasoning skills for high school biology students. The project will use simulations showing how individual systems function, how they work together, and how the integration of all three creates a dynamic and reactive biological system. It is expected that the presentation of this dynamic system will result in a deeper understanding of the materials and enhanced performance on student achievement measures. The goals of the project are to:1. Develop an integrated simulation of the human digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems that allows students to develop productive inquiry strategies.2. Embed the simulation in online instructional modules that provide immediate, individualized coaching as students are challenged with a series of investigative tasks.3. Provide reports of students' performances during the activities to students and teachers.4. Develop follow-up online collaborative investigations that provide differentiated instruction to strengthen students' understanding and support transfer and opportunities to engage in scientific discourse.5. Develop one benchmark assessment that measures outcomes across all three body systems and reports to students and teachers.6. Develop and deploy professional development to support teachers as they use these materials.7. Provide evidence of the technical quality, feasibility, and usability of the new materials.8. Study the influence of these materials on complex science and inquiry learning of the integration of the three human body systems modeled.A small scale randomized, controlled trial will be performed at the end of the project. The project is grounded in model-based learning, cognitive learning research, and an evidence-centered design. Universal Design for Learning is factored into all simulation designs. Questions asked during the evaluation include: Is the project progressing as planned? Are the modules useable? Are the users satisfied? Are the modules used as intended in a typical high school setting? Does this improve teaching and learning of key content? The primary investigator is WestEd; the American Association for the Advancement of Science is a partner and three teachers from nearby schools serve as co-developers. The project has an external evaluator as well as a strong advisory board. The project will create multi-leveled instructional cyber-modules. These modules will contain embedded assessments that provide students and teachers immediate and individualized coaching. Professional development will also provide teachers tools and guidance to increase their learning of human body systems. Dissemination strategies include featuring the modules on WestEd's award-winning website as well as submission of academic papers to journals and national conferences targeted at science educators and education researchers. Because these modules supplement classroom curricula and use online technology, they could potentially be used to teach millions of high school biology students.