Supporting Students’ Systems Thinking About the Water Cycle Through a Virtual Interactive Ecosystem Simulation

• In Event: Science Learning Experiences of Students in K–12 Classrooms

Abstract

This study examined middle school students’ development of systems thinking as they explored the water cycle using a virtual interactive ecosystem simulation. We focus on the analysis of a design experiment with two students to discuss the forms of students’ systems thinking and the ways these were supported by our design, which includes our tools, task, and questioning.

Authors

• Nicole Panorkou, Montclair State University

• Amanda Provost, Montclair State University

• Henry Vas Nunes, The Churchill School and Center