Noel Rappin

My research explores the creation of computer based modeling and simulation environments that are simple enough for students to be able to use them within the framework of existing courses, and yet complex and rich enough for the students to be able to learn from the modeling.  In order to do that, students using my software build models, supported in a way which focuses student activity on the connections between the model and the real world.

Research Projects I've worked on:
(Click on the project for more info)

BOOST: Basic Object Oriented Support Tool

DEVICE: Dynamic Environment For Visualization In Chemical Engineering

Toymaker

CaMILE: Collaborative and Multimedia Integrated Learning Environment

Affiliated Groups:

Graphics, Visualization, and Usability Center

EduTech

Cognitive Science

Contact Information

Email: noel@cc.gatech.edu

Daytime Phone: (404) 894-6266

HTML Resume

BOOST: Basic Object Oriented Support Tool

BOOST applies model-building techniques to teaching an undergraduate course in Object-Oriented programming, and is partially based on my observations teaching that course during Winter Quarter, 1997. BOOST has been used in two classes of over 100 students each, and has shown significant improvements in students' grades and in their design process.

BOOST research home page

BOOST is also available for download (but it still logs activity). Go to the BOOST Download Page


DEVICE: Dynamic Environment For Visualization In Chemical Engineering

Before BOOST, I worked on a project called. DEVICE: Dynamic Environment for Visualization in Chemical Engineering. DEVICE is a software environment that allows Georgia Tech students to learn the process of Chemical Engineering Modeling through the construction of simulations.  The home page contains information about the results of that project.  A paper on DEVICE was delivered at CHI '97.


DEVICE research home page


Toymaker

Toymaker is a learning environment created to teach design, mathematics and reading comprehension to elementary school students. Toymaker was tested in a second grade classroom in April, 1994. Toymaker was presented at a round table session during the American Educational Research Association's 1995 annual conference.



CaMILE: Collaborative and Multimedia Integrated Learning Environment

I used to be a part of the CaMILE: Collaborative and Multimedia Integrated Learning Environment project. CaMILE is a web-based collaborative tool that was introduced in a Mechanical Engineering class at Georgia Tech during Fall Quarter 1994, and was eventually used by several classes at Tech and other locations. Since then, CaMILE has has been superseded by Swiki/CoWeb, a CSCL environment developed by Mark Guzdial, and currently in use in an extremely wide variety of sites and fashions.