The WISE Idea Manager: A Tool to Scaffold the Collaborative Construction of Evidence-Based Explanations from Dynamic Scientific Visualizations

Abstract

Collaboratively constructed explanations not only help students connect claims with evidence; they can also promote productive argumentation in scientific inquiry (Bell, 2004; Suthers & Hundhausen, 2001). However, this can be challenging with topics that require learners to select, manage, and integrate multiple pieces of evidence from various sources. In this poster, we present the Idea Manager, an innovative tool to help students construct coherent explanations of complex scientific phenomena. In particular, we illustrate its use in Investigating Planetary Motion and Seasons, an online curriculum that guides students’ inquiry into the causes of the seasons.