First-person science inquiry in virtual ambient environments

Abstract

Virtual ambients are a class of restricted simulations designed to support science inquiry learning among elementary school students. Virtual ambients employ large multi-user displays to support "first-person" collaborative exploration, data collection, and the construction of support for hypotheses in simulated environments. In order to reduce the cognitive load on learners, navigation-in space, time, and scale-is used instead of traditional learning simulations' direct control of independent model variables. Early experience with elementary school students at three grade levels is reported, employing a configurable virtual ambient named the Field.

Virtual laboratories in education

“…Simple worlds can be the source of rich and authentic learning experiences for young learners, and are consistent with emerging design frameworks for technology-supported inquiry learning [5]. Students with a background of new high-tech, flashy computer games emerging from the entertainment industry may not be Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed fbr profit or commercial advantage mid that copies bear this notice and the lull citation on the first page.…”

“…In [5] 'virtual ambients' have been designed to support science enquiry learning among elementary school students. The application developed, 'The Field', allows students to eollaboratively explore a large "natural" terrain populated by up to eight different plant types.…”

“…Teachers rely on accessible local environments to stimulate and expose learners to new phenomena in their teaching syllabus [5]. Bringing these phenomena to the classroom in the form of a virtual environment has many advantages.…”