Creating tools to educate and engage : how interactive media can aid in scientific understanding

Abstract

A well-educated citizenry, armed with an awareness of science and technological principles, is vital to the success of our society. In order to keep the public interested in scientific topics, it is important that students become engaged with science in their younger years. Interactive media technology provides a means to achieving this goal by developing students' investigative abilities. Creation and use of interactive media technology is an essential step toward bridging these two imperatives: the need to connect students with science topics in order to pique and maintain interest in these areas, while also maintaining a relevance and engagement with current modes of information exchange.