Urban Habitats - Inquiry-based life science explorations for K-5 students

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议项目的目标，名为城市地图-调查为基础的生命科学探索的K-5学生，是设计，开发和评估独特的，从事多媒体教育软件。有了这个基于网络的互动软件，学生在等级K-5将通过探索和发现城市栖息地学习环境和生命科学。我们的目标是开发内容单元，深入研究在各种城市栖息地中常见的脊椎动物的特征，研究它们的自然历史，环境和它们所处的生态系统。与城市科学家的互动将反映科学是如何完成的，强调探究和发现是获得知识和理解的一种方式。基本的科学思想和过程的知识与国家科学教育标准和国家卫生研究院的使命一致，将在这个框架内解决。美国国立卫生研究院的使命是成为科学的管家，追求有关生命系统的性质和行为的基础知识，并应用这些知识来保护公众健康。因此，普通民众应该在基本科学原理方面有坚实的基础，以便他们可以运用这些知识促进和保持健康的生活，减少疾病和残疾给他们自己和整个社会带来的负担。在第一阶段，目标将是展示城市智能卡的可行性，以显着提高K-5学生的科学素养。第一阶段模块将在大约100名学生中进行测试。该研究的目的是调查学生的成果是否包括增强科学处理技能，增加生命科学内容知识，以及更深入地了解科学的本质。该项目第二阶段的目标是开发和测试一个功能齐全的原型。该软件的潜在商业应用将支持在公立、私立和家庭学校的广泛分发。这一基于软件的互动课程名为城市地图-基于调查的生命科学探索为K-5学生是相关的NIH的使命，因为它将促进科学教育，科学素养，并了解科学是如何进行的。重要的是，普通民众必须在基本科学原理方面打下坚实的基础，以便他们能够运用这些知识促进和维持健康的生活。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the proposed project, titled Urban Habitats-Inquiry-based life science explorations for K-5 students, is to design, develop and evaluate unique, engaging multimedia educational software. With this Web-based interactive software, students in grades K-5 will learn about environmental and life sciences through exploration and discovery of urban habitats. The goal is to develop content units that delve into the characteristics of vertebrates commonly encountered in various urban habitats, to study their natural histories, their environments, and ecosystems they are part of. Interaction with the Urban Habitats will reflect how science is done, emphasizing inquiry and discovery as a way of achieving knowledge and understanding. Knowledge of basic scientific ideas and processes consistent with the National Science Education Standards and the mission of the NIH will be addressed within this framework. The mission of the NIH is to be a steward of science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of this knowledge to protect public health. It follows that members of the general population should have a solid grounding in basic scientific principles so that they may apply this knowledge to promote and maintain a healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability on themselves and the society at large. In Phase I, the goal will be to show the feasibility of Urban Habitats to significantly improve science literacy in K-5 students. The Phase I module will be tested with approximately 100 students. The aim of the research will be to investigate whether student outcomes include enhanced science processing skills, increased life science content knowledge, and a deeper understanding of the nature of science. The goal of the project's second phase will be to develop and test a fully functional prototype. The potential commercial applications of this software will support a wide distribution in public, private, and home schools. This software-based interactive curriculum titled Urban Habitats-Inquiry-based life science explorations for K-5 students is relevant to the NIH's mission as it will foster science education, science literacy, and an understanding of how science is conducted. It is essential that members of the general population have a solid grounding in basic scientific principles so that they may apply this knowledge to promote and maintain a healthy life.