Module 3.12

Guidelines for the design of Technology-Enhanced Science Education Learning Activities

Contract Number: 410025

COSMOS: An Advanced Scientific Repository for Science Teaching and Learning


eContentplus

This project is funded under the eContentplus programme1, a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible,

usable and exploitable.

1 OJ L 79, 24.3.2005, p. 1.


Editors

ELLINOGERMANIKI AGOGI Dr. Sofoklis Sotiriou

C.E.R.T.H.

Demetrios G. Sampson Associate Professor, Dept Digital Systems, University of Piraeus, GreeceDirector, [email protected] Zervas, MSc

The COSMOS ASK Learning Objects Metadata Authoring Toolkit (COSMOS ASK LOM-AT) is owned by the Advanced e-Services for the Knowledge Society Research Unit of the Informatics and Telematics Institute at the Centre of Research and Technology Hellas and it was customized to support the process of characterizing the science education resources and science education learning activities of the COSMOS Portal. COSMOS ASK-LOM-AT was not developed within the framework of the COSMOS Project (Contract Number: ECP-2006-EDU-410025), but it was selected as the most appropriate available toolkit for meeting the project’s needs. [email protected] reserves all right on COSMOS ASK Learning Objects Metadata Authoring Toolkit and its use beyond the COSMOS activites.

The COSMOS ASK Learning Design Toolkit (COSMOS ASK LDT) is owned by the Advanced e-Services for the Knowledge Society Research Unit of the Informatics and Telematics Institute at the Centre of Research and Technology Hellas and it was customized to support the process of designing the science education learning activities of the COSMOS Portal. COSMOS ASK-LDT was not developed within the framework of the COSMOS Project (Contract Number: ECP-2006-EDU-410025), but it was selected as the most appropriate available toolkit for meeting the project’s needs. [email protected] reserves all right on COSMOS ASK Learning Design Toolkit and its use beyond the COSMOS activites.


Contents

1 Guidelines for Designing Science Educational Scenarios ......................... 71.1 COSMOS Learning Activities Authoring Tool (COSMOS ASK-LDT) ....................7

1.1.1 General Description .................................................................................................. 71.1.2 Main Functionalities .................................................................................................. 9

1.2 COSMOS ASK-LDT Authoring Process .............................................................101.2.1 CreateNewEducationalScenariobasedonaPre-definedTemplate .....................111.2.2 Assign Resources to the Educational Scenario Learning Activities ........................ 141.2.3 Open an Educational Scenario ............................................................................... 181.2.4 ImportanEducationalScenario .............................................................................. 191.2.5 Package Resources of the Educational Scenario ................................................... 231.2.6 Executing an Educational Scenario with external tools .......................................... 24

2 Indicative Examples for Designing Science Educational Scenarios ........ 262.1 Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Guided Research Model”

Template .............................................................................................................262.2 Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Inquiry-based Teaching”

Template ............................................................................................................ 312.3 Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Project-based Learning”

Template .............................................................................................................362.4 Designing Educational Scenarios based on “The 5E Instructional Model”

Template .............................................................................................................412.5 Designing Educational Scenarios based on “The Learning Cycle

(Supporting Conceptual Change)” Template ......................................................46

Editors

ELLINOGERMANIKI AGOGI Dr. Sofoklis Sotiriou

C.E.R.T.H.

Demetrios G. Sampson Associate Professor, Dept Digital Systems, University of Piraeus, GreeceDirector, [email protected] Zervas, MSc


List of Figures

Figure 1-1: Starting Up the Installation Process .............................................................................7

Figure 1-2: Installing the Application (COSMOS ASK-LDT) ...........................................................8

Figure 1-3: Select to run the program through the menu “Start” “All Programs” “COSMOS Tools” “COSMOS ASK-LDT” ................................................................8

Figure 1-4: COSMOS ASK-LDT “About” Page ...............................................................................9

Figure 1-7: Give the “Title” of the Educational Scenario ............................................................... 11

Figure 1-6: Select “New Educational Scenario” ............................................................................ 11

Figure 1-8: Select the Educational Scenario Template that the Educational Scenario is based on .................................................................................................................12

Figure 1-9: Provide a “Time Limit” for the activity and press “Package Resources” button..........13

Figure 1-10: Populating the Scenario Learning Activities with Educational Content ......................14

Figure 1-11: Create a folder associated with a learning activity .....................................................15

Figure 1 12: Populate the folder with content .................................................................................16

Figure 1-13: Populating the Scenario Environments with Educational Content .............................17

Figure 1-14: Select “Open Educational Scenario” ..........................................................................18

Figure 1-15: Select the Educational Scenario you want to open ....................................................19

Figure 1-16: Select the educational scenario to be transfered .......................................................20

Figure 1-19: Educational scenario imported successfully ..............................................................22

Figure 1-21: Successful creation of the IMS Learning Design package .........................................24

Figure 1-22: Previewing an Educational Scenario using the “Reload Learning Design Player” .....25

Figure 2-1: Select “New Educational Scenario .............................................................................26

Figure 2-2: Give the “Title” of the Educational Scenario ...............................................................27

Figure 2-3: Select the “Guided Research Model” Educational Scenario Template ......................28

Figure 2-4: Populating the “Circular Motion” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content ...........................................................................................29

Figure 2-5: The educational scenario entitled “Circular Motion” based on the “Guided Research Model” template ........................................................................................30

Figure 2-6: Select “New Educational Scenario” ............................................................................31



Figure 2-8: Select the “Guided Research Model” Educational Scenario Template ......................33

Figure 2-10: The educational scenario entitled “Cosmic Collisions” based on the “Inquiry-based Teaching” template ..........................................................................................35


Figure 2-13: Select the “Project-based Learning” Educational Scenario Template ........................38

Figure 2-14: Populating the “Extrasolar Planets” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content ...........................................................................................39

Figure 2-15: The educational scenario entitled “Extrasolar Planets” based on the “Project-based Learning” template ..........................................................................................40

Figure 2-20: The educational scenario entitled “Our Solar System” based on the “The 5E Instructional Model” template .....................................................................................45

Figure 2-24: Populating the “The Parallax Method” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content ....................................................................49



7

Guidelines for Designing Science Educational Scenarios1

In this Chapter, we present the functionalities of the COSMOS Authoring Engine for Learning Activities (COSMOS ASK-LDT) and provide a detailed description on how to use the COSMOS ASK-LDT in order to produce educational scenarios in the form of packages conformant to the IMS Learning Design specification.

COSMOS Learning Activities Authoring Tool (COSMOS ASK-LDT)1.1

General Description 1.1.1

The COSMOS Learning Activities Authoring Tool (COSMOS ASK-LDT) is a tool, based on Learning Technology specifications and more precisely on IMS Learning Design (Level A) and IMS Content Packaging2. The COSMOS ASK-LDT is used in order to design Educational Scenarios based on Pre-defined Educational Scenarios Templates and generate packages conformant to the IMS Learning Design specification.

In order to start the COSMOS ASK-LDT you have to run the file named COSMOS ASK-LDT.msi. A window will appear asking you to proceed with the installation process. You have to follow all the steps of the process by pressing the “Yes” button. After the finalization of the installation the following message will appear: “The Installationcompletedsuccessfully”. (See Figure 1-1, Figure 1-2 and Figure 1-3).

2 http://www.imsglobal.org/content/packaging/index.html

Figure 1-1: Starting Up the Installation Process


8

Figure 1-2: Installing the Application (COSMOS ASK-LDT)

Figure 1-3: Select to run the program through the menu “Start” “All Programs”

“COSMOS Tools” “COSMOS ASK-LDT”


9

Provided that the installation process completed successfully the first screen of the COSMOS ASK-LDT will appear (see Figure 1-4).

Main Functionalities1.1.2 The main functionalities of COSMOS ASK-LDT include:

Creation of a new educational scenario: The user can create a new educational scenario based on a pre-defined Educational Scenario Template namely, the “Guided Research Model”, “Inquiry-based Teaching”, “Project-based Learning”, “The 5E Instructional Model”, “The Learning Cycle (Supporting Conceptual Change)” and “ICT supported Culture Awareness Learning (ICCAL)”.

Definition of resources for the learning activities: The user can add resources (html pages, images, videos etc.) for the learning activities of the educational scenario or change the existing ones.

Generation of IMS LD Content Packages: The user can save an Educational Scenario as a Content Package (zip format) conformant with the IMS LD specification.

Figure 1-4: COSMOS ASK-LDT “About” Page


10

COSMOS ASK-LDT Authoring Process1.2

In this section the use of the COSMOS ASK-LDT in creating an educational scenario based on a pre-defined educational scenario template is presented using a step-by-step procedure.

Figure 1-5: COSMOS ASK-LDT Authoring Process

Figure 1-5 depicts the Educational Scenario authoring process with the use of COSMOS ASK-LDT. This process consists of four (4) basic steps:

Step 1 – Create New Educational Scenario : during this step the user selects a pre-defined educational scenario template in order to create a new educational scenario based on this template.

Step 2 – Assign Resources to Learning Activities of the Educational Scenario : after the finalization of Step 1 the user can assign resources to the learning activities of the new educational scenario.

Step 3 – Open Educational Scenario (Optional) : the user can open the educational scenario that is stored in the local repository of the COSMOS ASK-LDT.

Step 4 – Package Resources of the Educational Scenario : in this step the user is creating a package conformant with the IMS LD specification.

1. create New Educational scenario

4. Package Resources of the Educational

scenario

2. Assign Resources to Learning Activities

of the Educational Scenario

3. Open Educational Scenario


11

Create New Educational Scenario based on a Pre-defined Template1.2.1

1. From the File Menu Bar choose “New Educational Scenario” (see Figure 1-6).

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 1-7).Give the “Title” of the educational scenarioa. Press “Create” buttonb.

1

Figure 1-7: Give the “Title” of the Educational Scenario

2a

2b

Figure 1-6: Select “New Educational Scenario”


12

3. Select a “Generic Educational Scenario Template” for your Educational Scenario (see Figure 1 8).

Select the Generic Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be a. based on, from the list of the available templates

Press “Create Educational Scenario” buttonb.

For each activity of the educational scenario created repeat the following steps (optional) (seeFigure1-9):

Figure 1-8: Select the Educational Scenario

Template that the Educational Scenario

is based on

3b

3a


13

3. Select a “Generic Educational Scenario Template” for your Educational Scenario (see Figure 1 8).

Select the Generic Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be a. based on, from the list of the available templates


For each activity of the educational scenario created repeat the following steps (optional) (seeFigure1-9):

4. Select the Educational Scenario tab sheet

5. Select the Complete tab sheet and define when the activity ends (time limit)

6. Press “Save Scenario” button

7. Press the “Package Resources” button

Figure 1-9: Provide a “Time Limit” for the activity

and press “Package Resources” button

4

5 76


14

Assign Resources to the Educational Scenario Learning Activities1.2.2

Populating the Scenario Activities with Educational Content 1.2.2.1

For all the activities of the educational scenario, repeat the following steps (see Figure 1-10):

1. Select an “Activity” from the list of available learning activities.

2. Open a file manager and use the Drag n’ Drop function to associate the desired educational resources with the selected activity.

3. From the list of associated resources, select the “Primary Resource” of the selected activity.

3

21

Figure 1-10: Populating the Scenario Learning Activities with

Educational Content


15

In case a user wants to associate a folder containing certain files with a learning activity, i.e. a folder containing the images of an html page, you have to follow the steps below:

1. Select “Create new Folder”

2. Provide a name for this folder

3. Press “Create” button

4.Open a file manager and use the Drag n’ Drop function to associate the desired educational resources with this folder.

2

3

1Figure 1-11: Create a folder

associated with a learning activity


16

4

Figure 1 12: Populate the folder with content


17

Populating the Scenario Environments with Educational Content1.2.2.2

For all the available environments of the educational scenario, repeat the following steps (see Figure 1-13):

1. Select a “Tool/Service” from the list of available environment tools/services.

2. Open a file manager and use the Drag n’ Drop function to associate the desired educational resources with the selected Tool/Service.

3. From the list of associated resources, select the “Primary Resource” of the selected Tool/Service.

1

2

3

Figure 1-13: Populating the Scenario Environments with

Educational Content


18

Open an Educational Scenario 1.2.3

The Educational Scenarios that a user has created with the use of COSMOS ASK-LDT are stored in a local repository. A user can open an existing Educational Scenario following the steps below:

1. From the File Menu Bar choose “Open Educational Scenario” (see Figure 1-14).

2. Select the Educational Scenario you want to open from the list of the available educational scenarios (see Figure 1-15).

3. Press “Open Educational Scenario” button

1Figure 1-14: Select “Open

Educational Scenario”


19

Open an Educational Scenario 1.2.3

The Educational Scenarios that a user has created with the use of COSMOS ASK-LDT are stored in a local repository. A user can open an existing Educational Scenario following the steps below:

1. From the File Menu Bar choose “Open Educational Scenario” (see Figure 1-14).

2. Select the Educational Scenario you want to open from the list of the available educational scenarios (see Figure 1-15).

3. Press “Open Educational Scenario” button

Import an Educational Scenario 1.2.4

The ‘ImportEducationalScenario’ feature allows the importing of an educational scenario in the local repository of the COSMOS ASK-LDT. This feature, is not part of the Educational Scenario authoring process, however, it is useful when a user wants to transfer an educational scenario from the COSMOS ASK-LDT installed in one PC to the COSMOS ASK-LDT installed in another PC.

2

3

Figure 1-15: Select the Educational Scenario you want to open


20

1. The user can select from the location “C:\ProgramFiles\COSMOSTools\COSMOSASK-LDT\Projects” the desired educational scenario that is represented as a *.uol file (see Figure 1-16).

2. From the File Menu Bar choose “Import Educational Scenario” (see Figure 1-17).

3. Select the Educational Scenario you want to import (see Figure 1-18).

4. Press the “Open” Button (see Figure 1-18).

1

Figure 1-16: Select the educational scenario to be transfered


21

1. The user can select from the location “C:\ProgramFiles\COSMOSTools\COSMOSASK-LDT\Projects” the desired educational scenario that is represented as a *.uol file (see Figure 1-16).

2. From the File Menu Bar choose “Import Educational Scenario” (see Figure 1-17).

3. Select the Educational Scenario you want to import (see Figure 1-18).

4. Press the “Open” Button (see Figure 1-18).

2

Figure 1-17: Select “Import

Educational Scenario”

Figure 1-18: Select the

Educational Scenario to be

imported

34


22

5. Provided that the Educational Scenario import process completed successfully, the following message will appear: “TheScenarioimportedsuccessfully!!” (see Figure 1-19).

5

Figure 1-19: Educational scenario imported successfully


23

Package Resources of the Educational Scenario 1.2.5 After populating the entire set of scenario learning activities and environments with educational resources (see 1.2.2.1 and 1.2.2.2), then an IMS Learning Design package can be produced following the steps below:

1. Press the “Create Content Package” button.

2. Enter the zip file name where the package will be saved.

3. Save the IMS Learning Design package in the desired folder.

1

2

3

Figure 1-20: Generating IMS Learning Design

Packages


24

4. Provided that the Content Package creation process completed successfully, the following message will appear: “ContentPackagecreatedsuccessfully!” (see Figure 1-21).

Executing an Educational Scenario with external tools1.2.6 The developed scenario (see section 1.2.5) can be executed using external runtime tools conformant with the IMS Learning Design specification. The Reload Learning Design Player3 is an example of such a run-time tool.

3 http://www.reload.ac.uk

4

Figure 1-21: Successful creation of the IMS Learning Design package


25

In order to execute a scenario that has been implemented with COSMOS ASK-LDT through the Reload Learning Design Player, the following steps need to be followed:

Install and Open the Reload Learning Design Player1.

From the “File” menu select the “Import” functionality to import the content package that was 2. generated by the COSMOS ASK-LDT

From the “Course Manager View” select the appropriate role, press the right mouse button 3. and select “Play”

Navigate within the educational activities of the scenario and preview the Educational 4. Content

Figure 1-22: Previewing an Educational Scenario using the

“Reload Learning Design Player”


26

Indicative Examples for Designing Science Educational Scenarios2 In this Chapter, some indicative examples for designing Science Educational Scenarios are presented. These Science Educational Scenarios were produced during the COSMOS Summer School4, that was held in Heraklion, Crete, Greece in July 7-13, 2008. The scope of the summer school was to facilitate European Science Education Teachers in using existing tools and services for creating, sharing and searching reusable Science educational resources and activities so as to support their day-to-day teaching activities. To this end, each participant of the Summer School created one or more Technology-Enhanced Science Educational Scenarios using the COSMOS ASK-LDT.

Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Guided Research Model” Template2.1

In this Section the educational scenario called “Circular Motion” will be created based on the “Guided Research Model” Educational Scenario Template.


4 http://www.ea.gr/ep/cosmos%2Dsummer%2Dschool/

1

Figure 2-1: Select “New Educational

Scenario


27

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 2-2).Give the “Title” of the educational scenario i.e. Circular Motiona. Press “Create” buttonb.

3. Select the “Guided Research Model” as the Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be based on (see Figure 2-3).

Select the “Guided Research Model” Educational Scenario Template, from the list of the a. available templates


2a

2b

Figure 2-2: Give the “Title” of the Educational

Scenario


28





Foralltheavailableenvironmentsoftheeducationalscenario,repeatthefollowingsteps(see Figure 2-4):

3a

3b

Figure 2-3: Select the “Guided Research Model” Educational Scenario Template


29









10. Press the “Create Content Package” button (see Figure 2-4).

Figure 2-4: Populating the “Circular Motion” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content

4 5

6

7

10

8

9


30

In Figure 2-5 the Educational Scenario “Circular Motion” is presented through the use of “Reload Learning Design Player”.

Figure 2-5: The educational scenario entitled “Circular Motion” based on the

“Guided Research Model” template


31

Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Inquiry-based Teaching” Template2.2

In this Section the educational scenario called “Cosmic Collisions” will be created based on the “Inquiry-based Teaching” Educational Scenario Template.


1



32

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 2-2).a. Give the “Title” of the educational scenario i.e. Cosmic Collisionsb. Press “Create” button

2a


2b


33

3. Select the “Inquiry-based Teaching” as the Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be based on (see Figure 2-25).

Select the “Inquiry-based Teaching” Educational Scenario Template, from the list of the a. available templates






Figure 2-8: Select the “Guided Research Model” Educational

Scenario Template

3a

3b


34






Figure 2-9: Populating the “Cosmic Collisions” Scenario Learning Activities and

Environments with Educational Content

4 5

6

7 8

9

10


35

In Figure 2-10 the Educational Scenario “Cosmic Collisions” is presented through the use of “Reload Learning Design Player”.

Figure 2-10: The educational scenario entitled “Cosmic Collisions” based on the “Inquiry-

based Teaching” template


36

Designing Educational Scenarios based on “Project-based Learning” Template2.3

In this Section the educational scenario called “Extrasolar Planets” will be created based on the “Project-based Learning” Educational Scenario Template.



1


37

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 2-20).a. Give the “Title” of the educational scenario i.e. Extrasolar Planetsb. Press “Create” button


2α

2b


38

3. Select the “Project-based Learning” as the Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be based on (see Figure 2-13).

Select the “Project-based Learning” Educational Scenario Template, from the list of the a. available templates






Figure 2-13: Select the “Project-based Learning” Educational Scenario Template

3a

3b


39






Figure 2-14: Populating the “Extrasolar Planets” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments

with Educational Content

4 5

6

7 8

9

10


40

In Figure 2-15 the Educational Scenario “Extrasolar Planets” is presented through the use of “Reload Learning Design Player”.

Figure 2-15: The educational scenario entitled “Extrasolar Planets” based on the

“Project-based Learning” template


41

Designing Educational Scenarios based on “The 5E Instructional Model” 2.4 Template

In this Section the educational scenario called “Our Solar System” will be created based on the “The 5E Instructional Model” Educational Scenario Template.



1


42

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 2-17).a. Give the “Title” of the educational scenario i.e. Our Solar Systemb. Press “Create” button


2a

2b


43

3. Select the “The 5E Instructional Model” as the Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be based on (see Figure 2-18).

Select the “The 5E Insta. ructional Model” Educational Scenario Template, from the list of the available templates



Figure 2-18: Select the “The 5E Instructional Model” Educational Scenario Template

3a

3b


44





Figure 2-19: Populating the “Our Solar System” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content

4 5

6

87

910


45





In Figure 2-20 the Educational Scenario “Our Solar System” is presented through the use of “Reload Learning Design Player”.

Figure 2-20: The educational scenario entitled “Our Solar System” based on the “The 5E Instructional Model” template


46

Designing Educational Scenarios based on “The Learning Cycle (Supporting 2.5 Conceptual Change)” Template

In this Section the educational scenario called “The Parallax Method” will be created based on the “The Learning Cycle (Supporting Conceptual Change)” Educational Scenario Template.



1


47

2. Give a “Title” to the educational scenario (see Figure 2-22).Give the “Title” of the educational scenario i.e. The Parallax Methoda. Press “Create” buttonb.


2a

2b


48

3. Select the “The Learning Cycle (Supporting Conceptual Change)” as the Educational Scenario Template that your educational scenario will be based on (see Figure 2-23).

Select the “The Learning Cycle (Supporting Conceptual Change)” Educational Scenario a. Template, from the list of the available templates






Figure 2-23: Select the “The Learning Cycle (Supporting Conceptual Change)” Educational Scenario Template

3a

3b


49






Figure 2-24: Populating the “The Parallax Method” Scenario Learning Activities and Environments with Educational Content

4 5

6

87

910


50

In Figure 2-25 the Educational Scenario “The Parallax Method” is presented through the use of “Reload Learning Design Player”.

Figure 2-25: The educational scenario entitled “The Parallax Method” based on the “The Learning Cycle

(Supporting Conceptual Change)” template


51


52