Joshua Danish's Website
My Projects
The Science through Technology Enhanced Play (STEP) Project
In the Science through Technology Enhanced Play (STEP) project, we are investigating how embodied play among elementary school students can be used to help them understand scientific phenomena (e.g., the working of forces, complex behaviors of bees). Our most recent application is called GEM-STEP where the GEM stands for Generalized Embodied Modeling. This system allows users to create and implement any embodied model they can imagine with embodiment / motion tracking.
The Net.Create and VFOI Project
Net.Create is a collaborative network visualization tool developed to help users explore a large corpus of data concurrently together. This was originally implemented in undergraduate history classrooms, and more recently we have worked with middle school students to explore data literacy and their collective funds of identity.
The Scaffolding Explanations and Epistemic Development for Systems (SEEDS) Project
In the Scaffolding Explanations and Epistemic Development for Systems (SEEDS) project, we are exploring how elementary students (5th grade) think about different kinds of evidence as important for helping them create and revise models of scientific phenomena. To study this, we developed the Model and Evidence Mapping Environment (MEME).
The Representations for Teachers as Learners (RepTal) Project
The Representations for Teachers as Learners (RepTal) project aims to better understand how elementary teachers think about representations as part of their science teaching.
The Cities on the Edge of War Project
This is a bespoke semester-long board and roleplaying game we developed to help undergraduate history students explore the period leading up to and during the Peloponnesian war.
The BeeSign Project
BeeSign is a computer simulation designed to help young students observe the behavior of honeybees as they collect nectar and experiment with the result of changing either the behavior of the bees or the environment in which the hive is located. As a research project, BeeSign was designed to help early elementary students (grades k-2) explore complex systems concepts in intuitive ways.
The BioSim Project
Our goal in the BioSim project is to help early elementary students (k-2) explore complex systems concepts by engaging in participatory simulations where they take on the role of honeybees (BeeSim) or ants (AntSim) foraging for food. To support students in embodying these roles, they work with electronic puppets that help track their food collection activities and provide real-time feedback to them.
The Learning Physics through Play (LPP) Project
In the Learning Physics through Play project, we first explored the potential of computer vision coupled with embodied play as a means for supporting students in learning complex science concepts. This project focused on force and motion with 1st and 2nd grade students.
RAPT Lab
I direct the Representations, Activity, Play and Technology (RAPT) Lab, and do most of this work in collaboration with my team. You can see more about the lab at RAPTLab.org