“CreANIMate: A Biology Tutor” by Cleave, Edelson, Fitzgerald, Greenlee, Kaeding, et al. …
Conference:
Type(s):
Title:
- CreANIMate: A Biology Tutor
Program Title:
- G-Tech
Organizer(s)/Presenter(s):
Description:
The CreANIMate program teaches elementary school children about animals and how they survive in the wild. The program invites students to create new animals by faking existing animals and modifying them in some way. For example, a student might request a bee with a large nose. The task of creating the new animal was selected because it encourages creativity and because it provides rich opportunities for learning. Once a student proposes an animal, the program initiates a dialog in which various aspects of the student’s animal are considered. The discussion is accompanied by video of actual animals in the wild that illustrate relevant principles. The lesson that underlies the entire interaction is the relationship between the physical features of animals and the ways in which they use those features to help them survive in their environment. The particular examples of these basic principles that any student sees depend entirely on the individual interests expressed by the student.
