Virtual Destinations and Student Learning in Middle School: A Case Study of a Biology Museum Online
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Virtual Destinations and Student Learning in Middle School: A Cas ...

Chapter 1:  Introduction
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The ability of students to reflect on their own performance and attitudes is a crucial element for developing successful learning strategies (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2000). The various instruments such as the computer attitude questionnaires and the open-ended questionnaires provided this type of reflection. Finally, the experience provides insight in ways to enhance classroom science learning and teaching and may provide a useful lens for science educators as they learn to integrate computer technology into the curricula. Accessible resources for science teachers and their students can increase student engagement and positively impact student learning.

Definitions of Terms

  • Computer Enjoyment: The amount of pleasure a student derives from using computers.
  • Computer Importance: The perceived value or significance of knowing how to use computers.
  • Computer Learning Engagement: Engaged students using computers are actively involved in their own learning. They actively participate and show increased interest as they interact with the computer software. Improved academic performance may result from increased student engagement.
  • Computer Motivation / Persistence: Students display unceasing effort and perseverance as they work with the software programs. They never give up.
  • Content Knowledge: For the purposes of this research project, content knowledge will be defined as knowledge acquired from the context of an interactive online medium, contact using email with biology students at a local university, and a field trip to a biology museum at an urban university.
  • Museum / School Partnership: A mutually beneficial relationship between a school and a museum that has resources to use. Museums provide schools with something they do not have, primary resources and professional museum educators. The schools provide the museums with something they do not have, the students.
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