SmartWheels for Hands On Physical Science

Through prior projects and IES-funded SBIR projects in 2017 and 2018, the company developed an intervention called PocketLab, which includes a sensor that students use to collect scientific data, a dashboard to present data, and a notebook to catalogue data. In this project, the research team will develop a new prototype of a matchbox-sized car with embedded sensors for measuring velocity, acceleration, and force, for use in hands-on physical science classrooms. The prototype will include a sensor component that captures and transmits data to an app and a user-interface to present data from which educators and students can draw insights. At the end of Phase I, in a pilot study with two middle school educations with 100 students, the researchers will examine if the prototype functions as planned, it the lesson plans are feasible for classroom use, to what extent teachers use lesson plans to prepare for and conduct classroom investigations, and whether students are engaged using the prototype.