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Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Honors Project

Department

Chemistry

Keywords

Chemistry-Study and teaching (Middle school)-Audio-visual aids, Bioengineering-Study and teaching (Middle school)-Audio-visual aids, Education-Data processing, Imagination in children, Chemical education, Bioengineering, Knowledge building, Imaginative education

Abstract

Due to a lack of proficiency in math and science, the United States is facing a shortage of STEM professionals and difficulty competing economically with other countries. This phenomenon, combined with a general need for STEM knowledge in order to understand a world increasingly dependent on technology, has led to a push for more engineering education in the K-12 curriculum. This thesis examines the use of Imaginative Education for designing an online learning environment for middle school engineering education for the Through My Window project. Imaginative Education is a theory that utilizes cognitive tools associated with the development of linguistic ability to engage learners and encourage productive learning. Through online novels, and interactive learning adventures associated with the novels, Through My Window applies a variety of cognitive tools related to mythic and romantic understanding. The focus of this thesis is a bioengineering learning adventure. This thesis will detail the production methods and functionality of the learning adventure. In the development of the learning adventure, it was found that the methods employed engaged middle school students with chemical concepts in bioengineering.

Language

English

Comments

60 pages : color illustrations. Honors project-Smith College, 2015. Includes bibliographical references (pages 58-60)

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