Catherine Harrell's master's project focuses on addressing the learning challenges faced by high school girls in biology, particularly in understanding complex systems in science. The proposed solution is 'Machines of Perception,' an interactive 3D science puzzle designed to improve system comprehension through hands-on construction of perceptual systems. Assessment plans include qualitative and quantitative measures to evaluate user experience and learning effectiveness.

1. Master’s Project Idea Catherine Harrell Learning, Design and Technology March 4, 2010

2. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

3. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

4. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges Science requires system understanding : how do parts fit together to make a whole? Textbooks aren’t well suited for communicating how a system works. Many students are memorizing instead of visualizing . Secondary problem: Girls are poorly represented in the sciences.

5. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

6. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

7. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges High school girls enrolled in a biology course Needs: Better ways to learn about systems Resources for studying / homework Incentive to learn science in the first place

8. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

9. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

10. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges Machines of Perception Interactive 3D Science Puzzle Students learn about sensory physiology by building perceptual systems from scratch. The game guides them through constructing a retina, an eardrum, and other complex systems out of simple parts . Available online, can be used at home or in the classroom. Easy interface , offers lots of resources and information.

11. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

12. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

13. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges User tests: Is the interface easy to use? Qualitative surveys: Is it fun? Is it improving science understanding? How well can the student explain the systems to someone else? Quantitative assessments: Changes in grades? Test scores? Pre-test and post-test for knowledge? Follow-up studies: Do students remember the information after they’ve played? Can they apply system understanding to other areas of science?

14. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

15. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges

16. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 3

17. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3

18. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3

19. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4

20. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4 5

21. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4 6 5

22. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4 6 5 7

23. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8

24. How can we assess system understanding? How do we make sure the game isn’t too hard? How do we make sure the game isn’t too easy? Which systems should be learned first? What would motivate students to play this game? Can we quantitatively measure how helpful the game has been? How can we make it fun? How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas? How do we encourage students to seek out more information? 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 9 8

25. Learning Problem Target Audience Description of the product Assessment plans Challenges