5 papers
Learning Ecology with VERA Using Conceptual Models and Simulations
Spencer Rugaber, Scott Bunin, Andrew Hornback +2
Conceptual modeling has been an important part of constructionist educational practices for many years, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disc…
A4L: An Architecture for AI-Augmented Learning
Ashok Goel, Ploy Thajchayapong, Vrinda Nandan +2
AI promises personalized learning and scalable education. As AI agents increasingly permeate education in support of teaching and learning, there is a critical and urgent need for…
Contextualizing Large-Scale Domain Knowledge for Conceptual Modeling and Simulation
Sungeun An, Spencer Rugaber, Jennifer Hammock +1
We present an interactive modeling tool, VERA, that scaffolds the acquisition of domain knowledge involved in conceptual modeling and agent-based simulations. We describe the knowl…
Cognitive Assistance for Inquiry-Based Modeling
Sungeun An, Robert Bates, Spencer Rugaber +3
Inquiry-based modeling is essential to scientific practice. However, modeling is difficult for novice scientists in part due to limited domain-specific knowledge and quantitative s…
Understanding Self-Directed Learning in an Online Laboratory
Sungeun An, Spencer Rugaber, Jennifer Hammock +1
We described a study on the use of an online laboratory for self-directed learning by constructing and simulating conceptual models of ecological systems. In this study, we could o…