TESTIMONIALS

Dr. Hoyet Hemphill
"The Selene Project incorporates an innovative use of elaborated metaphors to help make an abstract concept, like accretion of the Moon, more accessible and grounded for the learner by relating new concepts and processes to familiar objects and processes. The simulation is fun and engaging while teaching some very important and abstract concepts about the formation of the planets and the moons. Learners get to try to build their own moon and thus gain an understanding of how our Moon was formed. I think this project could point the way for future online educational simulations."

Dr. Hoyet H. Hemphill has been chair of Instructional Design and Technology at Western Illinois University since 2002. He has been instructional research manager of a corporate R&D group and was director of an elementary education science outreach program in a four-state region. He has numerous publications and presentations and most recently published in the British Journal of Educational Technology.

Caroline Goode
"Observing my grandson, an eighth grade student, work through the pregame Selene and then the actual game, I was surprised by how quickly he learned the necessary 'ingredients' to recreate the formation of our Moon. He was totally engaged, talking his way through the game, and found the whole experience challenging and fun. I have worked for 25 years as a middle school science teacher and was impressed by the fast learning curve of Selene."

Caroline Goode has taught middle school science for more than 25 years, conducts professional development programs for teachers in grades 4-8, presents student programs that focus on aerospace themes using NASA resources, and has published a teaching handbook for grade five science with TeachingPoint Publishing. Caroline is currently the Massachusetts state coordinator for the National Science Teachers Association Building a Presence for Science program. She is also a contract consultant for the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence at Framingham State College. Caroline was named the 2006 McAuliffe “Christa’s Teacher of the Year" and received the 2006 Turner N. Wiley Teacher Award from the national Challenger Center for Space Education.

Jennifer Hubbell Thomas
"Selene clearly meets three of our Illinois state science standards. Additionally, Selene builds on concepts and helps students to learn them in a more meaningful and engaging manner. Several of my students expressed that the Selene game environment was a better avenue for learning than just reading and doing worksheets. I found that even students who weren’t particularly 'A' students were able to provide serious details, explain concepts, and express them using appropriate science vocabulary after playing Selene. This type of learning can be particularly challenging for junior high students. Even weeks after playing Selene, my students were still able to discuss concepts with great detail. Selene is a great way to 'teach,' especially when students have differing levels of reading ability. I say the more ways you have to teach something, the better!"

Jennifer Hubbell Thomas is an eighth grade astronomy/Earth science teacher at Williamsville Junior High in Williamsville, IL. In addition to her teaching duties, she is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Illinois at Springfield and is one of the research associates at the Barber Observatory, which monitors class B emission stars and looks for line profile variations in the Balmer series and some select metallic lines. Her research team will be presenting a poster at the American Astronomical Society meeting in St. Louis in June 2008. Hubbell Thomas has been featured as one of the “Moon Men” in the Illinois Times for her volunteer work at Star Parties, a popular astronomy gathering held at the University of Illinois-Springfield’s rooftop observatory.
 

Laura Wilbanks
"The Selene project has been an amazing way for my students to experience learning in the 21st century classroom. It offers everything a student could hope for: innovation, computer-based learning, excitement, and instant feedback! The simulation is appealing to the generation of children who are intrigued with videogaming and at the same time, meets Texas state science standards. With the United States fighting to stay at the cutting edge of the STEM fields, Selene offers students an authentic science experience that encourages them to stick with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics long after high school graduation."

Laura Wilbanks has a passion for nature. During a family trip at age 12 to the Grand Canyon, she decided to make science her career. Nita Fuller, assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, became her mentor while Laura worked for the Youth Conservation Corps at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Laura became a biologist for the Service before becoming an educator. For the past 20 years she has encouraged children to make a difference through the application of science, math, and technology in her science classroom in West Texas. Through project-based learning Laura's students solve community problems while mastering science process skills. Her students have received numerous honors through regional, state, and online science competitions, earning middle school students $350,000 for their accomplishments. A recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award, she devotes time after school to students through her science enrichment club, Science Rocks U, which has received the Texas Environmental Excellence Award. A member of the National Science Teachers Association, she was also named the 2007 Wal-Mart Area Teacher of the Year. She serves as an advisory member to the Christopher Columbus Awards Foundation and the U.S. Army's eCYBERMISSION competition.