About SimScientists

The SimScientists program in WestEd's Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) program is comprised of a suite of research and development projects that focus on the roles that simulations can play in enriching science learning and assessment. The overall goals of our research program are to bring together the latest research findings and best practices from model-based reasoning, cognition and learning, e-learning design, intelligent tutoring and educational measurement to design and test innovative ways of supporting student learning and instructional practice in middle school science.

Outcomes from our research program will be a set of simulation-based assessments and supplemental curriculum materials, as well as design patterns for producing future versions. Also, we will be producing research papers for journals and presenting at conferences to share what we are learning with the educational community.