"Collaborative Inquiry in Networked Communities: Lessons From the Alice Testbed"

Table of Contents
Background
Network Science Model
Scalability
The Software Innovation
Testbed Projects: Developing a Model
What Have We Learned About Network Science?
What Have We Learned About Scalability?
Summary
Appendix: Description of Testbed Projects
Bibliography

Background

The Alice/Collaborative Inquiry Testbed ("Alice Testbed") builds on a decade of work at TERC devoted to developing curriculum and software to enable students to do collaborative inquiry using telecommunications. The model of science learning that we call Network Science has emerged from a series of TERC projects; at present these projects include NGS Kids Network/Middle Grades and Global Laboratory III. In this model of learning, students at a variety of sites work collaboratively to collect data; they then organize and analyze the data and share their findings with others. Topics for Network Science units are often environmental, and have included investigations about the quality of drinking water, the level of ozone, and the effects of ozone on animal and plant life.

The Alice Testbed is one of four NSF-funded testbeds designed to demonstrate the educational potential of telecommunications.

            The testbeds are not simply demonstrations or existence proofs. They 
            are testing high-risk conjectures about new paradigms for learning 
            and teaching, and they will not necessarily succeed in the manner 
            originally envisioned. The testbeds are designed to advance our collective
            know-how and understanding in a way that builds upon the prior and 
            current experience of other groups, and contributes systematic knowledge
            to the larger community. During this pilot phase, each testbed is developing 
            a comprehensive research agenda. (B. Hunter, 1993, p. 1)

The long-term goal of the Alice Testbed is to establish the effectiveness of Network Science, and to develop key aspects of the technical, human, and conceptual infrastructure necessary to scale up Network Science, in order to make this approach to science learning widely available to students from upper elementary through high school. There are two conjectureseach in the form of a modelwhich form the basis of the Alice Testbed. The first model describes an approach to science learning, Network Science, that includes geographically-distributed groups of students who begin with a common problem, collect and share data, and discuss their findings. A second model describes the development of the appropriate infrastructure of products and services to support widespread use of Network Science (scalability). In taking the initial steps towards implementation of these models, the Alice Testbed is providing data about the effectiveness and viability of each model.