Dragon Play: Microworld Design in a Whole-Class Context
Nicholas Jackiw, Nathalie Sinclair · Journal of Educational Computing Research · 2002
We propose a whole-class view of microworld design, in which the total ecology of students, technology, and teacher is considered by the decisions and choices of the design. Through a case-study analysis of a classroom implementation, we illustrate a dynamic geometry microworld designed using such an approach and attempt to identify both the effects such an approach has on student affect and participation and the roles that educational technology fills in such a social context. We argue that whole-class microworld design not only has practical benefits in terms of classroom time and management, but also develops social interactions conducive to educative learning experiences.