NSF Org:	DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Initial Amendment Date:	May 4, 2004
Latest Amendment Date:	May 4, 2004
Award Number:	0341521
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Jeanne Small jsmall@nsf.gov  (703)292-8623 DUE  Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU  Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date:	May 1, 2004
End Date:	October 31, 2005 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$74,984.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$74,984.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2004 = $74,984.00
History of Investigator:	Beverly Woolf (Principal Investigator) bev@cs.umass.edu Lawrence Winship (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Massachusetts Amherst 101 COMMONWEALTH AVE AMHERST MA  US  01003-9252 (413)545-0698
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Massachusetts Amherst 101 COMMONWEALTH AVE AMHERST MA  US  01003-9252
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	VGJHK59NMPK9
Parent UEI:	VGJHK59NMPK9
NSF Program(s):	CCLI-EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS DEV
Primary Program Source:	app-0404
Program Reference Code(s):	9178, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	742700
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.076

ABSTRACT

Biological Science (61). This CCLI Educational Materials Development proof-of-concept project addresses the need to engage forest ecology students, including non-majors and future teachers, in activities that require critical thinking and scientific reasoning. It does this by building inquiry-oriented materials that approach forestry as an environmental mystery, asking students "Why are there no middle sized trees in this well developed forest?" "How often and which species of trees were logged?" and "How long ago was this beaver pond abandoned?" The software automatically records and analyzes students' observations, data and hypotheses and helps students draw inferences and revise hypotheses. The software works on a desktop computer and on a Personal Digital Assistant so students can record data and perform data analysis during field trips. The three forestry cases developed are tested for their effectiveness in a variety of post-secondary institutions and secondary schools, examining how and if inquiry learning is supported by the materials. Evaluation includes assessment of the software's usability and the consequent changes in student attitudes towards scientific reasoning. This work incorporates artificial intelligence, interactive multimedia and web-based technology in a rich, reliable and authoritative collection of teaching materials, thereby addressing the need for instruction appropriate to students of different learning styles and genders.

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