1998 Conference Attendees

I believe the products are unique in the multimedia world because of their high level of interactivity and the use of in situ tools to facilitate students' problem solving within the multimedia environment. They involve many different attempts to model real scientific inquiry in a mode that is true to the processes actually used by the scientists.

My vision for how visualization and modeling can most effectively impact and transform K-14 mathematics, science, and technology education is by deeply embedding visualization and modeling tools in authentic, richly conceived contexts. It is the only way, I believe, to insure that the experiences the students have with the tools will have a strong likelihood of connecting with reality and producing learning that is both lasting and generative.

Our partner on these two products has been Earthwatch, an organization whose primary goal is to enable volunteers to work with scientists in the field who are studying real problems of various kinds. The close working relationship we have forged with these scientists has enabled us to present very rich investigative contexts for students to explore. We begin by introducing students to the research and engaging them in simulated research activities. The willingness of the scientists to share in great detail their research strategies and processes has enabled us to create excellent simulations for students to pursue. Building on this foundation, we then open up the investigation more fully to the broader issues associated with the project’s work. For example, one of the Earthwatch projects we worked with is studying the three resident pods of orca whales in the Puget Sound are of the state of Washington. Because the researchers can uniquely identify each individual whale, they can follow these whales and regularly collect data on their activities and movements. One of the broader issues students are asked to consider is whether or not, and under what conditions, it is appropriate to capture such whales and keep them in captivity in order to display them for the public in marine parks.

Our collaborative approach is followed up by encouraging teachers to let students work collaboratively in groups as they pursue investigations and as they frequently continue to extend their understanding by exploring related web sites that are noted throughout the investigations.

Informal research on children's reactions to some of my own work has been highly informative, especially Immigrant (created with a team of teachers and researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education), Tide Pools, and a number of other science products created while I worked at Learningways, Inc.

The many opportunities I have had to view the work of Christina Hooper Woolsey and discuss multimedia ideas with her have strongly influenced my efforts

Research conducted in our department on the strengths and limitations of stand along science simulations has influenced my efforts to embed simulations in rich, structured contexts.

I have, of course, been influenced by the work of Howard Gardner, who has helped me broaden my efforts to appeal to a full spectrum of intelligences in my work.

We have sufficient evidence from classroom field trials that our products do engage students effectively in very valuable problem solving activities. They teach basic skills; but more importantly, they teach critical thinking skills and important habits of mind that go way beyond normal educational expectations.

We would like to be able to continue this work. We feel that providing students with opportunities to work in rich, technology-based environments, such as those we have created, is deeply important for well-educated people entering the 21st century.

One challenge that faces teachers in using our products is that the products require a significant time commitment to enable students to dig deeply and come away with a strong learning experience. We also encourage collaborative teamwork, which sometimes takes longer, but ultimately produces better results for all involved.

I feel that it is important that the world get a stronger picture of the incredible learning that students can do given both a well structured environment in which to learn and well designed technology tools to bring to bear on problems.