Investigating Processes And Products Of Secondary Science Students Using Dynamic Modeling Software

Investigating Processes and Products of Secondary Science Students Using Dynamic Modeling Software

International Conference of the Learning Sciences

The field of the learning sciences is concerned with educational research from the dual perspectives of human cognition and computing technologies, and the application of this research in three integrated areas: *Design: Design of learning and teaching environments, tools, or media, including innovative curricula, multimedia, artificial intelligence, telecommunications technologies, visualization, modeling, and design theories and activity structures for supporting learning and teaching. *Cognition: Models of the structures and processes of learning and teaching by which knowledge, skills, and understanding are developed, including the psychological foundations of the field, learning in content areas, professional learning, and the study of learning enabled by tools or social structures. *Social Context: The social, organizational, and cultural dynamics of learning and teaching across the range of formal and informal settings, including schools, museums, homes, families, and professional settings. Investigations in the learning sciences approach these issues from an interdisciplinary stance combining the traditional disciplines of computer science, cognitive science, and education. This book documents the proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2000), which brought together experts from academia, industry, and education to discuss the application of theoretical and empirical knowledge from learning sciences research to practice in K-12 or higher education, corporate training, and learning in the home or other informal settings.

Modeling and Simulation in Science and Mathematics Education

The world consists of many complex systems, ranging from our own bodies to ecosystems to economi~ systems. Despite their diversity, complex systems have many structural and functional features in common that can be effec tively simulated using powerful, user-friendly software. As a result, virtually anyone can explore the nature of complex systems and their dynamical be havior under a range of assumptions and conditions. This ability to model dy namic systems is already having a powerful influence on teaching and study ing complexity. The books is this series will promote this revolution in "systems thinking" by integrating skills of numeracy and techniques of dynamic modeling into a variety of disciplines. The unifying theme across the series will be the power and simplicity of the model-building process, and all books are designed to engage the reader in developing their own models for exploration of the dy namics of systems that are of interest to them. Modeling Dynamic Systemsdoes not endorse any particular modeling par adigm or software. Rather, the volumes in the series will emphasize simplic ity of learning, expressive power, and the speed of execution as priorities that will facilitate deeper system understanding.