What is Special About i-MWM?
i-MWM integrates hands-on inquiry and design activities in the classroom with interactive multimedia learning experiences on mobile devices to reach more students, personalize learning, and make classroom time more efficient.
Key Features of i-MWM
The Latest Research and Technology Applications
Today’s laboratory concepts will become tomorrow’s products! The i-modules are continuously updated by leading researchers in materials science and nanoscience to prepare students for the jobs of the future. Students learn how basic science concepts can solve global problems!
Vertically Integrated Learning
Content spans grade levels, from elementary school to the community college and vocational levels. Fundamental nanoscience concepts are introduced early on and reinforced over time. Teachers can take online professional development courses or refresh their understanding before preparing their lessons. This approach bridges gaps across grade levels to better prepare students for college and careers!
Next Generation Inquiry-and-Design
Our proven inquiry and design methodology has been enhanced with multimedia tools to better prepare students for 21stcentury STEM careers.
Just like professional scientists and engineers, students can now:
- Study concepts on their own before performing lab experiments. (Interactive games let them explore and intuitively grasp a concept; then a narrated tutorial introduces the concept more fully.)
- Use advanced animations to visualize the nanoscale and understand complex phenomena (3-D, time-dependent, etc.);
- Use interactive simulations to analyze laboratory data, generate mathematically accurate models, and ask “what if?” questions that might lead to new discoveries!
Personalized Learning and Assessment
Some students learn best by reading - others by seeing, hearing, or doing. Students can study independently, at their own pace, using the tools that are best suited to their own personal learning style. Most of the content in the i-modules is presented in multiple formats – students can read content, listen to and watch videos, and interact with simulations and games. Rapid-feedback assessments let students track their own progress and let their teachers know when they need support. In this way, students can take responsibility for their own learning and be better prepared for class!
Student Collaboration Platform
Today’s students love to stay connected online! Why not use this this behavior to prepare them for future careers? Employers want students who can communicate, collaborate, and innovate effectively. The i-MWM platform allows students to brainstorm ideas, join design competitions, and discuss the pro and cons of different design solutions with their peers around the country.
Alignment with Standards
i-MWM is aligned with:
- The Next Generation Science Standards, which emphasize cross-cutting concepts and science and engineering practices;
- The Core Math Standards, which emphasize mathematical modeling and applying mathematical ways of thinking to real-world issues and challenges;
- The Framework for 21st Century Learning, which emphasizes skills for learning, innovation, life and career.
Key Features of this Demo
Multimedia Content
Tapping into multiple learning modalities, students can hear and watch multimedia content, allowing them to conceptualize and visualize the nanoscale in their classrooms without using expensive equipment! These tools convey complex concepts like 3-D spatial and time-dependent phenomena much better than static textbooks.
Interactive Modeling and Simulation Tools
Just like professional scientists and engineers, students can use simulations to input and analyze data, generate mathematically accurate models to plan designs and ask “what if?” questions that might lead to new discoveries!
Interactive Games
Performing a task improves learning and retention. Interactive games are motivating and keep students engaged by letting them experience instant responses to their actions.