Can preschool children acquire knowledge of the physical world by using simulation software?: The case of an interactive exhibit in a science museum.

Résumé 0

Research on the role of computing in the understanding of scientific phenomena shows that the carrying out of experiments with software is complementary to their realisation with respect to reality, but is not sufficient. This is all the more true for young children, for whom confrontation with material objects is necessary. In the context of scientific interactive exhibitions - which are today considered as real places of formal learning in the framework of science education - the use of software alone, for purposes of understanding, is sometimes necessary in order to show natural phenomena or technical systems, that are impossible to display in real forms. We thus wanted to determine, in the context of a visit to a scientific exhibition, whether the use of specific simulation software by children allowed them to acquire knowledge concerning the physical world. This research goal gives rise to two questions concerning on one hand, the contribution of such computer environments on a cognitive plane for children who manipulate them, and on the other hand the role of the adults accompanying children during such activities.