The Collaborative Visualization Project: Shared-technology learning environments for science learning

Roy D. Pea (1) , Louis M. Gomez (2)

1 Institute for the Learning Sciences
2 Bellcore

Project-enhanced science learning (PESL) provides students with opportunities for "cognitive apprenticeships" in authentic scientific inquiry using computers for data-collection and analysis. Student teams work on projects with teacher guidance to develop and apply their understanding of science concepts and skills. We are applying advanced computing and communications technologies to augment and transform PESL at-a-distance (beyond the boundaries of the individual school), which is limited today to asynchronous, text-only networking and unsuitable for collaborative science learning involving shared access to multimedia resources such as data, graphs, tables, pictures, and audio-video communication. Our work will create user technology (a Collaborative Science Workbench providing PESL design support and shared synchronous document views, program, and data access; a Science Learning Resource Directory for easy access to resources including two-way video links to collaborators, mentors, museum exhibits, media-rich resources such as scientific visualization graphics), and refine enabling technologies (audiovisual and shared-data telephony, networking) for this PESL niche. We characterize participation scenarios for using these resources and we discuss national networked access to science education expertise.

Keywords: kindgarten education; 5 to 17 years old (k-12); visualization tools

Domains: Technology for Human Learning

Roy D. Pea, Louis M. Gomez. The Collaborative Visualization Project: Shared-technology learning environments for science learning. SPIE '92 (International Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers), 1992, New-Jersey, United States. 13 p. ⟨hal-00190568⟩