An interactive, digital textbook to transform earth science learning

AbstractThe next generation of STEM and health care professionals will need to understand the foundational principles of scienceScience textbooks play a critical role in supporting scientific understanding in schoolyet these books are not designed to meet the diverse learning needs of students in today s classroomsBy their naturescience textbooks assume a one size fits all approach to learningBecause of this problemteachers spend substantial time outside of the classroom locating and adapting texts to support students who are learning Englishstudents who read below grade leveland students with learning disabilitiesThe proposed Phase I project seeks to address the limitations of current Earth Science textbooks and to revolutionize reading with adaptable textsTransforming the learning processSquidBooks makes texts flexible by offering digital texts at different difficulty levels with embedded language support to create a personalized reading experienceoptimizing both learning and engagementIn particularthe project will support ELL students and students unable to read at their grade levelBecause science textbooks are often writtentoyears above the intended grade levelit is almost impossible for students with emerging and intermediate English reading skills to comprehend and learn from traditional science booksThe Phase I project includesaimstranslating NGSS aligned Earth Science contentESS CThe Roles of Water in Earth s Surface Processesinto SpanishAimdesigningdevelopingand testing digital graphic organizers to function through a web browserAimand conducting user testing with students and teachersAimSuccessful completion of the proposed project will create knowledge about disciplinary textual processing and adaptive reading technologies and will support students who have historically been marginalized from STEM fieldsespecially students with low reading achievement and ELL studentsIn turnthis project will enhance and diversify the STEM and health care fields Project NarrativeAlthough science textbooks are a central curricular resource in Keducationthey are often inaccessible and difficult to readthis problem is compounded when students are unable to read at their grade levelare learning Englishor have diagnosed learning needsThis Phase I project will produce an interactivedigital textbook to support studentsunderstanding of Earth Science by giving them the ability to seamlessly move between different reading levels and languages and to take note using interactive graphic organizers that enhance their understanding of scientific language and conceptsThis project will also solicit feedback from teachers and students to evaluate the efficacy of SquidBooks at improving science learning outcomes