RAPID: Enabling Collaborative Science Learning Experiences on Mobile Devices

这个RAPID项目的重点是将现有的支持基于项目的科学的协作软件——WeMap和WeKWL——移植到iPad上。作为一个补充研究项目的一部分，最初的软件设计和开发是针对Android机器的，但ipad在很多学校都有，错过了在2012-2013学年推出可以立即用于科学课的软件的机会，将是一种耻辱。这项工作包括在2012年夏季将核心协作支持、概念映射和KWL设施迁移到IPad上，同时开发样课，模拟如何将软件集成到课堂活动中。这些应用程序将于2012年秋季上市。其他功能（文件管理和留言板）将在秋季和冬季移植，并在学校可用时提供给学校。这些应用程序将共同构成所谓的WeLearn协作平台。第一批可用的应用程序形成了教师习惯使用的核心应用程序，当他们有新设备可用时，他们会要求使用这些应用程序；更多的通用应用程序（例如，绘图和动画，协作阅读和写作）和科学特定的应用程序（例如，数据收集和分析工具）将被添加到套件中，因为从互补的研究项目中学到了更多。RAPID的目的是建立一个可以添加这些应用程序的平台，并吸引大量的教师购买这些应用程序。这种基础设施和通过使用获得的可信度将构成更完整的应用程序集的基础，并使教师和学校系统看到通过研究努力开发的工具可以具有价值。这个项目正在解决一个现实的、迫在眉睫的需求：全国各地的学校都在今年夏天购买ipad，准备在秋季使用。老师们需要能够在开学后立即在科学课上有效地使用ipad，然而支持科学学习的教育软件却很少。鉴于公共债券通常用于支持大规模的技术采购，如果ipad不能像之前的台式机和笔记本电脑一样对学生的成绩产生预期的积极影响，那么从长远来看，这将对K-12学校的预算造成毁灭性的打击。然而，如果没有可用的应用程序和如何有效地将它们用于科学教育的模型，这项技术被很好地利用的可能性很小。这个项目解决了真正的需求——为教师提供易于使用的软件来促进科学学习，并以这样一种方式进行，即他们可以及时在他们的新设备上使用该软件，并有可用的使用模型来激发他们的想象力。

This RAPID project focuses on porting existing collaborative software in support of project-based science -- WeMap and WeKWL -- to the iPad. Initial software design and development has been done for Android machines as part of a complementary research project, but iPads are available in so many schools that it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to make available for the 2012-2013 academic year software that could be immediately used in science classes. The work consists in moving the core collaboration support, concept mapping, and KWL facilities to the IPad during summer, 2012, along with development of sample lesson that model how the software can be integrated into classroom activities. The apps will be available in Fall, 2012. Additional capabilities (file management and message board) will be ported in fall and winter and made available to schools as they are available. Together the apps will form what is being called the WeLearn Collaboration Platform. The first apps to be made available form a core of apps that teachers are used to using and ask for when they have a new device available; more general-purpose apps (e.g., drawing and animating, collaborative reading and writing) and science-specific apps (e.g., data collection and analysis tools) will be added to the suite as more is learned from complementary research projects. The purpose of this RAPID is to establish the platform into which those apps can be added and attract significant teacher buy-in with those apps. That infrastructure and the credibility gained through its use will form the basis for a more complete app set and reason for teachers and school systems to see that tools developed through a research endeavor can have value. This project is addressing a real, imminent need: Throughout the country, schools are buying iPads this summer for use in the fall. Teachers need to be able to use the iPads productively in science class immediately when school begins, yet there is little in the way of educational software available in support of science learning. Given that public=supported bonds are often used to support large-scale technology purchases, it will be devastating (long term) to K-12 school budgets if, like their desktop and laptop cousins before them, iPads are not having the kind of positive impact on student achievement that is expected. Yet, without available apps and models of how to use them effectively for science education, there is little possibility of the technology being used well. This project addresses real needs -- making easy-to-use software for promoting science learning available to teachers and doing it in such a way that they have that software in time to use it on their new devices and have available models of its use to spur their imaginations.