In this project, a microworld was created in an ASSISTment, a computer based program that assists students with inquiry as it collects data to assess their performance, that assessed middle school students' knowledge of ecology and inquiry skills while addressing common misconceptions in food webs. The students' prior knowledge of ecology was assessed through pretest items. Through two problem scenarios in the microworld, the students were assessed on their inquiry skills and knowledge. Their gains in knowledge were then assessed through the same pretest items given in a posttest. The project did successfully assess the students' inquiry skills and knowledge, although there is room for improvements in the microworld and scaffolding that should be made before further implementation.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mitnik, Alec S.

Subject

• Computing
• Learning
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-102611-031757

Keyword

• Computer-assisted instruction
• Interdisciplinary approach in education
• Education, Higher

Advisor

• Beck, Joseph E.
• Gobert, Janice

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-10-26

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved