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Increasing ecological understanding with virtual worlds and augmented reality

In EcoMOBILE, students' field trip experiences are enhanced by using two forms of mobile technology for science education: mobile broadband devices and environmental probeware.

Credit: Shari J. Metcalf, Harvard University

 

A screenshot from the EcoMUVE virtual forest module.

EcoMUVE is a curriculum that was developed at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and uses immersive virtual environments to teach middle-school students about ecosystems and causal patterns.

Credit: Shari J. Metcalf, Harvard University


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EcoMUVE is a curriculum that was developed at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education with funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

The goal of the EcoMUVE project is to help students develop a deeper understanding of ecosystems and causal patterns with a curriculum that uses Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs).

EcoMUVE includes two MUVE-based modules, Pond and Forest. Each centers around an immersive, simulated ecosystem that represents a complex ecological scenario. Students work individually at their computers and collaborate in teams within the virtual world. The immersive interface allows students to learn science by exploring and solving problems in realistic environments.

Credit: Shari J. Metcalf, Harvard University