RESUMEN
Science plays a crucial role in engineering. But science tends to be obscure to students, especially when they are overwhelmed by complex engineering design challenges that involve many variables. This article shows how computer graphics can be used to visualize science concepts and operationalize inquiry practices in engineering design to support integrated learning and teaching of science and engineering. Based on these graphical capabilities, generative design driven by evolutionary computation can also be visually illustrated to give students a glimpse into how artificial intelligence is transforming engineering design. The article provides real-world examples in the field of sustainable energy engineering based on Aladdin, an open-source design and analysis Web app. It also presents evidence of learning from pilot tests at culturally diverse high schools. Science educators interested in incorporating engineering design into their lesson plans may find this article helpful.
RESUMEN
Many studies have demonstrated the usefulness of virtual characters in educational settings; however, widespread adoption of such tools is limited by development costs and accessibility. This article describes a novel platform, web automated virtual environment (WAVE), to deliver virtual experiences through the web. The system integrates data acquired from a variety of sources in a manner that allows the virtual characters to exhibit behaviors that are appropriate to the designer's goals, such as providing support for users based on understanding their activities and their emotional states. Our WAVE platform overcomes the challenge of the scalability of the human-in-the-loop model by employing a web-based system and triggering automated character behaviors. To support wide-scale use, we are making WAVE freely accessible (part of the Open Education Resources) and available anytime, anywhere.
