Designing a Technology-enhanced Play Environment for Young Children's Science Modeling Practice

In this paper, we built on the Learning through Embodied Activity Framework (LEAF) and designed the GEM-STEP mixed reality environment to support young children's science modeling practice through different play activities. The participants in this study are 16 first and second-grade students who participated in activities within the GEM-STEP environment to explore the mechanism of pollination. We applied interaction analysis to classroom videos to explore how the design of mediators within the MR environment supports students’ collective play and orients students toward science modeling practices. We found that the design of the MR environment provides a pivot for students to engage in science modeling practice, and the two roles that students played with the technology offered them different perspectives to explore and examine their model of pollination. We hope this study provides guidance on how to design for young children's science modeling practice with extended reality in a more playful way.