TY - JOUR
T1 - The Role of Computer Simulation in an Inquiry-Based Learning Environment
T2 - Reconstructing Geological Events as Geologists
AU - Lin, Li Fen
AU - Hsu, Ying Shao
AU - Yeh, Yi Fen
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Several researchers have investigated the effects of computer simulations on students' learning. However, few have focused on how simulations with authentic contexts influences students' inquiry skills. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, we developed a computer simulation (FossilSim) embedded in an authentic inquiry lesson. FossilSim integrated data from real field investigations with geological laws for identifying the sequence of geological events. Data were collected from two experiments to examine ninth graders' abilities for reconstructing a sequence of geological events with the aid of FossilSim. The sample groups in Experiments 1 and 2 were 58 and 11 ninth graders, respectively. The results indicated that the authentic inquiry lesson promoted the development of students' inquiry skills. In addition, FossilSim played a key role in engaging students to apply geological laws, make multi-scale observations, and clarify their ideas about geological time.
AB - Several researchers have investigated the effects of computer simulations on students' learning. However, few have focused on how simulations with authentic contexts influences students' inquiry skills. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, we developed a computer simulation (FossilSim) embedded in an authentic inquiry lesson. FossilSim integrated data from real field investigations with geological laws for identifying the sequence of geological events. Data were collected from two experiments to examine ninth graders' abilities for reconstructing a sequence of geological events with the aid of FossilSim. The sample groups in Experiments 1 and 2 were 58 and 11 ninth graders, respectively. The results indicated that the authentic inquiry lesson promoted the development of students' inquiry skills. In addition, FossilSim played a key role in engaging students to apply geological laws, make multi-scale observations, and clarify their ideas about geological time.
KW - Computer simulation
KW - Geological time
KW - Inquiry skills
KW - Inquiry-based learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860660115&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860660115&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10956-011-9330-3
DO - 10.1007/s10956-011-9330-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84860660115
SN - 1059-0145
VL - 21
SP - 370
EP - 383
JO - Journal of Science Education and Technology
JF - Journal of Science Education and Technology
IS - 3
ER -