Design Environment for Educator-Student Collaboration Allowing Real-Time Engineering-centric, STEM (DESCARTES) Exploration in Middle Grades

DESCARTES is a game-based engineering environment where students design, test, and build projects, including boats, airplanes, and other models. The web-based student-facing environment will include challenges, topic introductions, tutorials, and tools for analyzing and improving projects. Following completion of a concept in the environment, students will then build and test real world prototypes using a 3-D printer. Students will be able to work together in teams, keep a log of their activities, and share designs, reports, and ideas with classmates and teachers. The teacher portal will track student progress and provide curricular supports and materials for classroom implementation.