Robert Panoff, a leader in the field of computational science, presented a lecture on the ways his discipline can enhance science and mathematics education during the Voices of Discovery lecture Thursday, Oct. 2. Details...
Panoff is founder, director and senior scientist at the Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. The foundation, based in Durham, N.C., seeks to advance science and mathematics education using computer technology. Computational science uses computer technology and mathematical systems to simulate complex phenomena, such as an earthquake.
During his presentation, Panoff emphasized the importance of using groundbreaking software to teach students about complex notions such as fractals or galaxy collisons, the patterns and details of which could take hours or even years to compute otherwise.
“What technology is really doing is giving us the opportunity to change the education system,” he said. “It’s using the technology for what it’s inteded to do, which is, in this case, to compute.”
Panoff stressed the need for well-made computational software that will allow teachers to move beyond simple Web or PowerPoint presentations and into actual simulations of complex experiements.
“Software design in an educational context is very important,” he said. “It minimizes the amount of time faculty have to spend teaching the students how to use the software.”
Panoff also emphasized Shodor’s role in advancing computational science in the classroom. Shodor is a national leader in the development of interactive software that enables students to master complex concepts and processes in the sciences.
“We wanted kids to experience how technology is being used in science,” he said, noting that Shodor’s program covers a wide range of topics. “The classes are actually hands-on plus computer modeling,” he said.
Shodor and other collaborators have formed the National Computational Science Institute, which will train science faculty in the use of computational science as a learning tool.
The Voices of Discovery science speaker series, sponsored by Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, invites noted scholars in science and mathematics to Elon to share their knowledge and experience with students.