During half-hour sessions, four third grade girls and four third grade boys from a Long Island elementary school were observed individually while playing an early prototype of a computer game called 'Inventors' Workshop. The procedure involved assessment of student interpretation of the part visuals and renaming of parts once the game had been experienced; suggestions for additional parts; comprehension of the connection of parts; understanding of rotation feature; ability to respond to three different and successively more difficult challenges; ability to invent their own challenge for
Cyberchase produced a Math & Sports unit during Season 6. Focus groups with fourth graders were implemented to assess understanding of sports diagramming and using symbols to represent plays and ball passes. Cyberchase is the Emmy Award-winning mathematics series and website on PBS KIDS GO! using broadcast, web, new media and educational outreach to impact millions nationwide. Designed for children ages 8 to 11 and packed with mystery, humor, and action, Cyberchase's mission is to improve kids' problem-solving and math skills, and inspire them with confidence and enthusiasm toward math. The TV
To prepare for future summative research on the synergy among multiple educational media, the present pilot research explored real-life use of Cyberchase outreach materials. The present pilot study included: a Web survey of 48 outreach providers (representing over 3000 children in 19 states), follow-up phone interviews with 26 of these providers, and in-person observations at two outreach sites, one in New York and one in Massachusetts. With an eye toward future summative research, the resulting data yield conclusions and implications in two broadly defined areas: providers' use of Cyberchase
In 2004, WGBH received partial funding from the National Science Foundation to create Einstein's Big Idea, a two-hour docudrama on Einstein and the history of the formula E=mc2. Based on the book E=mc2, A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis, the program highlights the stories of those who helped develop the key concepts that make up the equation, with a particular focus on how Einstein pulled together these concepts to create E=mc2. Through these stories, Einstein's Big Idea focuses on four themes that served as learning goals for the project. The four themes are: (1