Simulations are student centered, since students make decisions and see the results of their actions. The teacher is present, but in the role of coach, using discussion to prompt students to explore different aspects of the problem space, answering students' questions, and encouraging students to elaborate their thinking and listen to other points of view. The examples below are provided as illustrations of how technology can support student involvement in authentic tasks. Since 1985, when it first became available for commercial use, teachers have been using The Voyage of the Mimi I , developed by Bank Street College, to create environments for exploration. The centerpiece of the first voyage is a 13-part television drama that portrays the adventures of a group of young scientists, including several adolescents, who are studying whales off the coast of New England.
Viewers observe the crew conducting scientific experiments and solving technical problems.
A separate documentary accompanies each television show, portraying scientists engaged in their work. Four computer modules engage students in using navigation concepts and instruments, for example, to free a trapped whale in the Atlantic. The modules also include a microworld ecosystem, a tool for measuring and graphing physical events, and a programming environment. A book version of the TV show, classroom activities, and additional resources are also available for teachers. Not all of the Voyage of the Mimi environments are simulated.