Science4Us Field Effectiveness Tests Begin

Science4Us is an interactive online elementary science curriculum built on the 5E Instructional Model designed for today’s digitally savvy students and teachers with limited time and resources.

S4U uses casual games, animation, video, simulations, assessments, leveled reading, read-alouds, vocabulary games, and virtual laboratory experiences to deepen students’ science content knowledge. S4U is teacher friendly, adaptable, and includes embedded professional development for each module.

S4U relies on a flexible modular design to be usable in the following contexts:

a) Teacher facilitated classes with a projection board,
b) Small student groups around a computer without a teacher facilitator
c) Individual students on PCs.

In late September and early October, S4U and half a dozen cooperating elementary schools, some coordinated through an educational research university, will examine the effectiveness of the Science4Us.com Matter Unit. The Matter Unit consists of four independent modules, on students’ science motivation and processing skills and on teachers’ content knowledge and comfort.

The research purpose is to determine whether the S4U Matter Unit is effective in increasing students’ and teachers’ science aptitude and interest.

This is the third set of field tests of Science4Us.com. In March and April, two sets of tests were conducted using the Motion Unit. The initial field tests were with individual students to review interface, navigation, and technical issues. The second set of tests were conducted in a set of elementary schools to gather feedback on initial usability and design for the primary target use, elementary classroom use.

We are accepting inquiries from other elementary schools and researchers that would like to participate in field tests in the late fall, winter, and spring.