Habitat tracker

Abstract

This poster presents preliminary results from an ongoing research project designed to help elementary school students learn about scientific inquiry. Florida State University, in partnership with the Tallahassee Museum (a wildlife center in Tallahassee, FL), has developed a digital journaling system that uses online and mobile technologies to help students better understand the nature of science. The project's goal is to encourage students to become active participants in the scientific inquiry process by collecting and analyzing data about natural habitats, before, during, and after visits to a wildlife center. Preliminary results show that a mobile learning application specifically designed for elementary school students can support the scientific inquiry process at wildlife centers and in the classroom, and help students master the scientific inquiry and nature of science benchmarks advocated by science education reform efforts.

Scientific inquiry, digital literacy, and mobile computing in informal learning environments

“…Preliminary results from testing the Habitat Tracker curriculum with nearly 2000 fourth-and fifth-grade students over the past two years indicate that involving students as active participants in their own science education can help students develop scientific inquiry practices and promote a better understanding of the nature of science (Marty et al 2012). To assess the relationship between scientific inquiry and digital literacy across formal and informal learning environments, this study explores how projects like Habitat Tracker can encourage the students' use of digital literacy skills while engaging in scientific inquiry activities.…”