𝔖 Bobbio Scriptorium
✦   LIBER   ✦

The dynamics of learning in a computer simulation environment

✍ Scribed by Nancy Roberts; George Blakeslee; William Barowy

Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Year
1996
Tongue
English
Weight
902 KB
Volume
7
Category
Article
ISSN
1046-560X

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis

This pilot study represents an initial step to better understand both the potential for and limitations to leaming science when middle school students interact with expert computer simulations; that is, simulations designed by scientists and built by professional programmers. The eight middle school students in this study were a diverse group from an urban school. For the first part of the study, we collaborated with the middle school science teacher. For the second part, we divided the students, meeting with half of them in the grant offices and half in the school. This move solidified our hypothesis that the interaction among the teacher's pedagogical style, the student's subject matter interest and knowledge, and a computer simulation form a system that can either promote or hinder effective learning. The findings of this pilot study strongly suggest that computer simulations can be used effectively for learning and concept development when teachers:

  1. use student learning needs, rather than student learning gains, to guide their choice of pedagogical style, 2. use direct instruction to stimulate student interest as well as build basic knowledge, and 3. altemate their pedagogical style between direct instruction and student exploration.

This subtle balance needs to be discussed and modelled by science educators.

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