SBIR Phase I: A Collaborative Aerospace Vehicle Design Game in Support of Engineering Curricula for Grades 9-12

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目涉及开发课堂互动中的航空航天车辆设计环境(DAVinCI)。达芬奇是一个面向9-12年级的协作式、引导式提问环境和游戏。这一概念将把航天飞行器设计和仿真工具与一个以设计挑战为基础的游戏结合起来，这个游戏的灵感来自现实世界的工程问题。该环境旨在成为自我指导的非正式学习和软件的混合体，这些软件可以支持课内项目和主题，和/或供学生在课外使用。学生将被引导通过所需的科学、数学和工程原理的背景，并鼓励他们在车辆设计中探索和利用这些原理。让大学预科学生学习工程设计方法是推进科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)教育和增加STEM大学毕业生数量的一种方式。尤其是航天飞行器设计是一个强大的、多才多艺的令人兴奋的平台，让学生接触到科学和工程的许多方面，因为它确实是一项多学科的努力。预计的第一阶段结果是一个概念验证工程设计游戏的Beta测试，其中包含整个章节的内容和设计挑战。这个项目的更广泛的影响和商业潜力是一个填补9-12年级工程教育的利基市场的游戏。有一些初步商业化的计划途径，包括向学校、家长销售，以及扩展包和爱好套件等辅助功能的销售。未来的商业机会将包括基于独立设计的游戏、为业余爱好者设计的环境，以及飞行模拟器的模型生成工具。工程设计促进了STEM教育的互联性和丰富性。改善与实际应用的联系也可以提高学生在科学、技术和数学方面的表现。如果成功，DAVinCI将是一个极好的方式，可以激励学生在教育的成长期考虑从事科学和工程职业。虽然有许多商业软件产品可以帮助科学、技术和数学的学习和教学，但尝试解决工程教育的产品很少，尝试以一种基本上非正式的方式集成游戏机制和设计方法的产品就更少了。设计和游戏环境的紧密结合保持了学生的参与度，以支持课堂活动并继续强化课外概念。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project involves the development of the Design environment for Aerospace Vehicles in Classroom Interaction (DAVinCI). DAVinCI is a collaborative, guided inquiry environment and game targeted for grades 9-12. This concept will integrate aerospace vehicle design and simulation tools with a design challenge-based game inspired by real world engineering problems. The environment is intended to be a hybrid of self-directed informal learning and software that can support in-class projects and topics and/or be utilized by students outside of class. Students will be guided through the required background in science, mathematics and engineering principles and encouraged to explore and utilize these principles in vehicle design. Engaging pre-college students with engineering design methodology is one way to advance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and increase the number of STEM college graduates. Aerospace vehicle design in particular is a powerful, versatile exciting platform to expose students to many facets of science and engineering, as it is truly a multidisciplinary endeavor. The anticipated Phase I results are beta tests of a proof-of-concept engineering design game containing a full chapter of content and design challenges.The broader impact and commercial potential of this project is a game that fills a niche for Grade 9-12 for engineering education. There are a number of planned avenues for initial commercialization, including sales to schools, parents, and of auxiliary features such as expansion packs and hobby kits. Future commercial opportunities will include stand-alone design-based games, design environments for hobbyists, and model generation tools for flight simulators. Engineering design promotes added interconnectivity and enrichment in STEM education. Improved connection to practical applications could also improve student performance in the sciences, technology, and mathematics. If successful, DAVinCI would be an excellent way to inspire students to consider careers in the sciences and engineering at formative points in their education. While there are numerous commercial software products to assist with the learning and teaching of science, technology, and mathematics, there are few products that attempt to address engineering education, and even fewer that attempt to do so in a largely informal manner that integrates game mechanics and design methodology. The tight integration of the design and game environments maintains the engagement of students to support classroom activities and continue reinforcement of concepts outside of class.