Understanding How Roles Mediate Young Children’s Science Learning Within an Embodied Mixed-Reality Environment

• In Event: Technological Advances in Learning Sciences Research on Science Learning

Abstract

In this paper, I aim to explore how play mediates students toward science modeling from a student’s perspective. I designed 6-activity within a Mixed Reality (MR) environment focusing on the honeybee system. In these activities, I encouraged students to engage in different roles: where they embodied 1) bees, 2) farmers, and 3) scientists. Students participated in a pre-and post-interview. I applied thematic analysis to the interview to answer the question: How do students demonstrate their understanding of the science modeling practice when they take on different roles in the interview? The results revealed that different roles offer students various experiences to understand target science concepts.

Author

• Xintian Tu-Shea, University at Buffalo - SUNY