| Project | BOOST: Basic Object-Oriented Support Tool |
| Contact | Noel Rappin |
| noel@cc.gatech.edu | |
| URL | http://www.gvu.gatech.edu/edtech /BOOST/BOOST.html |
| Project description | BOOST is an attempt to improve modeling and design skills among undergraduates learning object-oriented programming. It builds on DEVICE (Dynamic Environment for Visualization in Chemical Engineering), a software environment which improved modeling and domain performance in Chemical Engineering undergraduates. Both tools support model-building -- the act of explicitly creating a model to enhance understanding of a domain. Each program provides specific types of support to the student modelers, including process support, a focus on the connections between model and object and explicit semantic meaning for student actions. The goal is to show that these types of supports would be broadly applicable to model-building environments across a variety of domains. |
| Theoretical background | BOOST and DEVICE build on a variety of modeling and simulation projects. Non-computational work includes the Collins and Brown's theory of Cognitive Apprenticeship, as well as Hestenes work on modeling theories of Physics education. Computational environments that have informed the design of my tools include environments that provide semantic support for modeling, including Guzdial's Emile, and Jackson's Model-It. |
| Challenges | The immediate short-term challenge of this project is implementing it under classroom conditions and evaluating it's effectiveness. Further questions include: What features of the support are particularly effective in improving modeling and domain skills? Do the modeling skills transfer to other domains? How can these tools be integrated into collaborative enviroments? Would that be useful? |
| Partnership | I'd be very interested in people at other institutions who would be willing to use my tools for the purpose of evaluation. |