VLE-STAR: Virtual Learning Environment for Scientific Thinking in AstRonomy

VLE-STAR：AstRonomy 中科学思维的虚拟学习环境

• 批准号: 0836936
• 负责人: Angela Speck
• 金额: $ 14.98万
• 依托单位: University of Missouri-Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0836936&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: VLE; STAR; Virtual; Learning; Environment; VLE; STAR; Virtual; Learning; Environment

The project is developing learning materials for laboratory experiences in an undergraduate astronomy course, which utilize advances both in technologies available and in our understanding of the social nature of learning. These learning materials serve as proof of concept units demonstrating the power of combining 3D virtual learning environments (VLEs) with social interaction to augment science learning so that it is more engaging, active, visual and effective. VLEs are interactive computer systems that mediate the students experience with the subject matter and the instructor and fellow students. The proof of concept units include the use of 3D virtual reality to help students interact with scientific constructs, the use of collaborative learning tools to motivate student activity, deepen understanding and support knowledge building, and the use of process support mechanisms to enable realistic implementation of the instruction and guide students to effective and efficient work plans. The demonstration units and VLE target developing a basic understanding of science, i.e. what it is and how it works, through learning the meaning of Kepler's law and the nature of lunar motions and eclipses in an interactive environment. The key steps of this project are: 1. Develop two proof of concept learning units to demonstrate the potential of implementing an integrated VLE comprising a 3D virtual science exploration, a collaborative system for social networking and class management, and a notification system for facilitating work process and social learning. 2. Implement the proof of concept units in open source environments (Croquet, Sakai, CANS) so as to leverage existing technology, support needed customization and maximize potential for dissemination, extension and broad impact. 3. Field test units and VLE for improving the design and implementation and to draw implications for dissemination, extension and broad impact. Intellectual Merit: The key outcomes are new, innovative learning materials that exemplify an integration of 3D exploration, social learning, and laboratory teaching. The project contributes to the intellectual basis for developing learning materials and VLE by furthering our understanding of design for virtual and social aspects of learning systems and by testing how well this work supports learning outcomes. Broad Impact: Given the need for improving and extending laboratory teaching for the sciences and the need for helping non-science majors to think scientifically, the proposed project is developing learning materials that can directly serve courses in Astronomy and serve as illustrations of how 3D and social environments can be used for other math and science learning in post-secondary and secondary education. The use of 3 open source systems makes the project materials and impact available for use and extension across the science education and learning technology communities

该项目正在开发学习材料，以在本科天文学课程中为实验室经验开发，该课程利用了可用技术的进步以及我们对学习的社会性质的理解。这些学习材料是概念单元的证明，证明了将3D虚拟学习环境（VLE）与社会互动相结合的力量，以增强科学学习，以使其更具吸引力，活跃，视觉，视觉和有效。 VLE是交互式计算机系统，可以调解学生对主题和教练和同学的体验。概念单位的证明包括使用3D虚拟现实来帮助学生与科学结构进行互动，使用协作学习工具来激励学生活动，加深理解和支持知识构建以及使用过程支持机制，以实现实现教学和指导学生有效，有效的工作计划。示范单位和VLE目标通过学习开普勒定律的含义以及在互动环境中的月球运动和日食的本质来发展对科学的基本理解，即它是什么以及它的工作原理。该项目的关键步骤是：1。开发两个概念验证学习单位，以证明实施包括3D虚拟科学探索的综合VLE的潜力，一个用于社交网络和班级管理的协作系统以及促进工作过程和社会学习的通知系统。 2。在开源环境（Croquet，Sakai，Cans）中实施概念验证单位证明，以利用现有技术，支持所需的自定义和最大化传播，扩展和广泛影响的潜力。 3.现场测试单元和VLE，以改善设计和实施，并吸引对传播，扩展和广泛影响的影响。 智力优点：主要结果是新的创新学习材料，体现了3D探索，社会学习和实验室教学的整合。该项目通过进一步了解学习系统的虚拟和社会方面的设计，并测试此工作对学习成果的能力来促进智力基础。广泛的影响：鉴于需要改善和扩展科学的实验室教学，并需要帮助非科学专业的专业进行科学思考，因此该项目正在开发学习材料，这些材料可以直接在天文学中为课程提供课程，并用作如何将3D和社交环境用于后期和中学教育中的其他数学和科学学习。使用3个开源系统使项目材料和影响可用于在科学教育和学习技术社区中使用和扩展