Collaborative Research: EAGER: SCIENCE: Systemic Cultivation of Inclusive Equitable Nurturing Classroom Ecology

在这项合作提案中，一个由人机交互和学习科学研究人员组成的团队将与科学教育从业者合作，开发和研究一种新的学习类型，旨在促进4 -9年级科学教育的公平性。该研究项目针对的是视觉障碍学生，他们在教育系统中面临许多挑战，特别是在科学课程中。与人文和社会科学学科不同，除了印刷材料外，科学教育在很大程度上依赖于使用图表、图表和图像的可视化。因此，有视觉障碍的学生不能很容易地访问这些可视化，并且对科学相关的结构有误解。拟议的学习类型通过包括创新的多模态文物和针对视力和视障学生的科学教育的新教学方法来解决这一对公平获取的关键需求。这些被称为感知的多模态人工制品，是学习类型中心的创新，利用了新兴的技术和运动，如创客技术和文化、计算机视觉和移动设备。Sensables是一种3D打印模型，它有“热点”，可以通过在附近的设备上播放媒体文件来响应用户的触摸。这些媒体文件可以是模型组件的音频描述、相关的声音或图像，甚至是盲文注释。调查人员将研究学生如何使用这些人工制品学习，并为教师创建一个基于网络的共享和讨论门户、软件工具和教学资源，以促进在课堂上广泛采用这种学习类型。通过迭代设计和工程，评估和数据分析，这个跨学科设计为基础的研究计划将有助于人机交互和学习科学领域。研究人员将进行单个案例设计研究，以评估和改进Sensables的设计。该项目的产出包括新的课程材料和在科学教育中使用感官的教学方法。本研究将回答以下研究问题：(1)Sensables人工制品和教学方法的哪些方面提供学习？(2)与现行标准相比，Sensables在多大程度上帮助学生学习材料？(3)什么类型的科学内容最适合Sensables ？同样，什么类型的内容不适合用Sensables学习？研究人员将发展他们的研究成果，并向学术界、教育和残疾专业人士传播，为广泛使用和采用这项学习技术铺平道路。

In this collaborative proposal, a team of human-computer interaction and learning science researchers will collaborate with science education practitioners to develop and study a novel learning genre that aims to promote equity in science education for 4th-9th graders. The research program targets students with visual impairments (VIs), who face many challenges in the education system, especially in science courses. Unlike subjects in the humanities and social sciences, science education relies heavily on visualizations using charts, diagrams, and images, in addition to print materials. Consequently, students with VIs cannot readily access those visualizations and are burdened with misconceptions of science-related constructs. The proposed learning genre addresses this critical need for equitable access by including innovative multimodal artifacts and a new pedagogical methodology for science education for both sighted and visually impaired students. These multimodal artifacts called Sensables, the innovation at the center of the learning genre, leverage burgeoning technologies and movements such as maker technology and culture, computer vision, and mobile devices. Sensables are 3D printed models that have "hotspots" that respond to a user's touch by playing a media file on a nearby device. These media files can be audio descriptions of the model component, related sounds or images, or even braille annotations. The investigators will study how students learn with these artifacts, and create a web-based sharing and discussion portal, software tools, and instructional resources for teachers to promote broad adoption of the learning genre in the classroom.Through iterative design and engineering, evaluation, and data analysis, this interdisciplinary design-based research program will contribute to both the human-computer interaction and learning science fields. The investigators will conduct a single case design study to evaluate and refine the design of Sensables. The project's output includes new curricular materials and a pedagogical methodology for using Sensables in science education. The study will answer the following research questions: (1) What aspects of the Sensables artifacts and pedagogical methodology afford learning? (2) To what extent do Sensables help students learn material compared to current standards? (3) What type of science content are Sensables best suited for? Similarly, what type of content is not appropriate for learning with Sensables? The investigators will develop and disseminate their research outcome to the academic community as well as education and disability professionals to pave the way for broad use and adoption of this learning technology.