EXP: Augmenting Household Technologies for Learning and Whole Family Participation: Heating and Cooling Control as an Exploratory Case

这个项目正在探索在城市家庭的非正式环境中促进学习活动的可能性。这项调查是在能源管理的背景下进行的。pi正在构建一个基于平板电脑的模拟和支持资源材料，这些材料与参与家庭的智能可编程恒温器集成在一起。该软件旨在促进人们对与家庭能源管理有关的科学问题的好奇心。pi正在跟踪家庭之间的互动——他们彼此之间的讨论以及他们围绕恒温器和平板电脑软件的互动（个人和集体）——以了解家庭在能源管理方面的行为和促进学习活动的机会，以及将能源管理作为一项家庭活动来促进科学学习的挑战和可能性。如何设计围绕能源管理的家庭教育软件以及随后的学习，以及对促进其他学科领域的家庭教育的影响。非正式学习，特别是在正规机构之外的学习，没有得到充分的研究。但学习是在人们生活的日常环境中有规律地发生的。更好地了解在这种环境中更系统地促进学习的可能性，将开辟新的途径，帮助所有年龄段的人学习与他们生活有关的科学，并逐渐认识到科学在我们周围的世界中所起的作用。把精力集中在能源管理问题上，也可能导致更可持续的能源使用行为，更好地理解当地和全球的能源和气候挑战，为更多的公民了解并参与政策考虑和辩论开辟道路。

This project is exploring possibilities in promoting learning activities among urban families in the informal setting of their homes. The investigation is in the context of energy management. The PIs are building a tablet-based simulation and supporting resource materials that are being integrated with smart programmable thermostats in the homes of participating families. The software is designed to promote curiosity about scientific issues related to home energy management. The PIs are following the ensuing interactions of the family -- their discussions with each other and their interactions (individual and joint) around the thermostat and the tablet-based software -- to understand family behavior around energy management and the opportunities for promoting learning activities, the challenges and possibilities of promoting science learning around energy management as a family activity, how to design software for family education around energy management and the ensuing learning, and what the implications are for promoting family education in other disciplinary domains. Informal learning, especially learning that happens outside of formal institutions, is understudied. But learning happens regularly in the everyday contexts in which people live. Understanding better the possibilities for more systematically promoting learning in such environments will open up new ways of helping people of all ages learn science relevant to their lives and come to appreciate the role science plays in the world around us. Focusing the effort specifically on energy management issues may also lead to more sustainable energy use behaviors and greater understanding of local and global energy and climate challenges, opening the way for more of the citizenry to be informed about and become involved in policy considerations and debates.