NGSS + Inquiry-Based Learning
A platform designed for curiosity-driven, evidence-based science instruction.
The Next Generation Science Standards emphasize learning through inquiry, modeling, experimentation, and interpretation of real phenomena.
E.D.E.N. is built directly around these ideas.
How E.D.E.N. Supports Inquiry
1. Students interact with a real scientific model
Instead of simplified diagrams or animations, students explore a full planetary system with authentic behaviors:
- water flow
- air movement
- climate variation
- ecological viability
They engage with science the way scientists do: by observing a system, examining data, and drawing conclusions.
2. Data-rich visualizations encourage exploration
Every overlay — temperature, moisture, wind vectors, elevation, slope, rivers, biomes — is a dataset students can interpret.
This naturally supports NGSS practices:
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Using models to explain phenomena
- Constructing evidence-based explanations
3. Scenarios function like guided investigations
Each scenario begins with:
- a real-world scientific question
- a set of observable clues
- optional prompts that guide student thinking
Students investigate by manipulating time, switching overlays, and comparing regions.
4. Students see cause & effect clearly
By adjusting:
- climate inputs
- initial moisture
- terrain conditions
- environmental factors
…students immediately see how systems respond.
This turns abstract ideas (feedback, equilibrium, interactions) into visible, concrete experiences.
5. Learning scales with curiosity
E.D.E.N. works for:
- short 10–15 minute explorations
- full-period investigations
- multi-day inquiry projects
- advanced AP Earth Science work
Students can dig as deep as they want — from simple observations to complex analysis.
Why Inquiry Matters
Inquiry learning reinforces critical NGSS goals:
- deeper conceptual understanding
- better retention
- stronger reasoning skills
- exposure to real scientific practices
- higher student engagement
E.D.E.N. gives classrooms the tools needed to make inquiry not only possible, but intuitive.