Title

Building Model NASA Satellites: Elementary Students Studying Science Using a NASA-themed Transmedia Book Featuring Digital Fabrication Activities

Publication Date

7-2014

Document Type

Article

Comments

Tillman, D., An, S., Boren, R. & Slykhuis, D. (2014). Building Model NASA Satellites: Elementary Students Studying Science Using a NASA-themed Transmedia Book Featuring Digital Fabrication Activities. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 33(3), 327-348. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved July 18, 2018 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/42081/.

© 2014 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of nine lessons incorporating a NASA-themed transmedia book featuring digital fabrication activities on 5th-grade students (n = 29) recognized as advanced in mathematics based on their academic record. Data collected included a pretest and posttest of science content questions taken from released Virginia Standards of Learning exams, pre-intervention and post-intervention attitudinal survey data on students' attitude towards science, and open-response questions completed by students describing their feelings about the experience. No statistically significant findings resulted from our achievement test of science, but there were significant impacts on some measures of attitude towards science, and student participants self-reported their feelings about the experience. The article concludes with a discussion of how these results might provide guidance to other endeavors that feature digital fabrication activities in the context of science education, and an articulation of the various obstacles and possible benefits that might occur in future studies.

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