Descartes

ED GAMES EXPO

Engineering Integration

DESCARTES is built on a set of real engineering tools for: creating complicated designs; analyzing these designs with math, science, data, and plots; simulating these designs; 3D printing or hand fabricating a prototype and collecting test data in the real world. Students collaborate, communicate, and discuss their designs in teams and the platform contains tools for sharing design logs, files, and results with a team. The platform and supporting curricula have an emphasis on analysis, justification, documentation, practice, and communication of STEM concepts. The web-based software platform can be used for in-class, hybrid learning, and distance learning situations for both informal situations.

The DESCARTES platform, challenges, curricula, and apps are based on years of engineering education, teaching, and pedagogy experience at all levels from K-12 to undergraduate. We have partnered with educational research specialists at several universities to conduct several large classroom pilot tests of the platform to evaluate the usability, feasibility of implementation, and impact on outcomes for students at the upper elementary and middle school level. To date we have had over 9000 educators and student users successfully implement and use our products. In 2018-19 we conducted a quasi-experimental study with 14 classrooms and 445 students in grades 3-5, where students and teachers examining the implementation of an integrated 3-week project-based STEM curricula utilizing DESCARTES. Results showed statistically significant improvements in content knowledge related to measurement, area, volume math standards, and engineering, energy, forces, and matter related standards. Observations and surveys demonstrated the usability and feasibility in the classroom.

 

FREE TRIAL

This June for visitors of the Ed Games Expo Parametric Studio is offering a free 60 trial for DESCARTES. Our software is web-based and works best on computers with the following specs.

  • Laptop, Desktop, Chromebook, Mac (made within the last 5 years)

  • 4GB RAM (preferred) although 2GB will work in most instances

  • Dual Core Processor (or faster)

  • Mouse or Touchpad

  • Keyboard

  • Chrome, Safari, or Edge (preferred)

  • Stable Internet Connection

In order to get your trial of DESCARTES first fill out the form on this page. As soon as we receive it our team will respond back to you with a unique license number and instructions for accessing, registering, and using the Parametric Studio Games site.  Also, we are offering short 1hour training courses on how to use DESCARTES in the classroom multiple days during the month of June. These free virtual training sessions are for 10 teacher participants at a time (first come first serve) and you can sign up for a time slot at the end of the same form.

If you have any questions, you may email us at info@parametricstudioinc.com.

“Descartes is integrated STEM. It’s science, math, and engineering working as the glue that holds it all together.”

— Chris Whitmer