Well-designed digital games hold promise as effective learning environments. However, designing games that support both learning and engagement without disrupting flow is quite tricky. In addition to including various game design features (e.g., interactive problem solving, adaptive challenges, and player control of gameplay) to engage players,…

The ubiquity of mobile devices makes them well suited for field-based learning experiences that require students to gather data as part of the process of developing scientific inquiry practices. The usefulness of these devices, however, is strongly influenced by the nature of the applications students use to collect data in the field. To…

THE MAJOR CONCEPT OF THE UNIT IS THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PARTICLES IN ORDER TO STUDY THEM. ATOMS ARE COMPOSED OF TWO KINDS OF CHARGED PARTICLES--PROTONS AND ELECTRONS. ANY DIFFERENCE IN THEIR NUMBERS RESULTS IN A CHARGED BODY. IF ENOUGH CHARGED BODIES ARE PRODUCED, THEY WILL AFFECT CHARGE DETECTORS. CONCLUSIONS CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE…

THE USE OF DATA SHEETS IS ENCOURAGED IN THE UNITS ON CLASSIFICATION. EACH STUDENT IS INSTRUCTED TO CLASSIFY TYPES OF LEAVES ACCORDING TO THEIR SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES, AND THEN TO EXCHANGE LEAVES WITH ANOTHER STUDENT IN ORDER TO NOTICE IF INFORMATION ON A NEW SET OF LEAVES WOULD FIT ON THE SAME DATA SHEET. PLANTS ARE NEXT TO BE CLASSIFIED…