PROMOTING ONLINE INQUIRY: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN STRATEGIES USING 3-D LEARNING OBJECTS

Dr. Kevin F. DowningDePaul University (Chicago)

Contact: kdowning@depaul.edu

PART II. LEARNING OBJECTS, DISCIPLINARY CONTENT OBJECT MODEL (DCOM), ONLINE REPOSITORIES OF

3D OBJECTS, VIRTUAL MUSEUMS WITH 3D SPECIMENS, AND OTHER SOURCES OF 3D OBJECTS

Background: Learning Objects and

Repositories

Duval and Hodgins (2003) devised a LO taxonomy and hierarchy, which they termed a content object model . We have extended that model through the level of a disciplinary field.

Repositories

National Science Digital Library(NSDL)

Reuseable Format

Learning Object

Metadata Standard

(IEEE LOM)

Learning Object

•Standardization•Easier Search•Lower Cost (Broader Distribution)

Digital Libraries and Repositories for Education

Digital libraries and repositories serve as cognition-leveraging websites for creating, exchanging, managing, and presenting information (in the sense of Fulker, 2003).

Government agencies, universities and other scientific institutions with an educational purpose typically sponsor Digital libraries

Examples of Learning Object Repositories with 3D

Resources

http://nsdl.org/

r

http://amser.org/

http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp

http://www.compadre.org/

Examples From FieldsTopic LinkVirtual Archaeology http://www.digital-archaeology.co

m/3D.htm

3D Gallery of World Places

http://www.3djournal.com/001/gallery_cities.php

Virtual Art http://www.lastplace.com/

3D Art Center: http://www.3dcenter.us/

360o Virtual Tours

Merchant’s House Virtual

History Museum

http://merchantshouse.org/virtual/index.html

Virtual Jamestown

http://www.virtualjamestown.org/

Focus: Using the Disciplinary Content

Object Model (DCOM)

Focus: Simulations

Simulated learning settings are a complex form of learning object environment that model a system such that learners can change variables and make hypothetic predictions.

They are often facilitated in a 3D web environment.

Examples: Simulated Surgery

http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/index.htm

http://www.edheads.org/activities/brain_stimulation/

Virtual Surgery

Example: Surgical Simulation (from Dev et al., 2002).

Real-Time Intestinal Surgery SimulationImages of the intestinal surgery simulator. (a) Intestine (purple) and mesentery (orange), pulled by a probe on the left side. (b) Stable resting position, with no pulling and no mesentery visible. (c) Inside the abdominal cavity. (Garcıa-Perez, Munoz-Moreno, de Luis-Garcıa, & Alberola-Lopez, 2006).

Example: Mars Flyover

http://www.marsquestonline.org/coolstuff/faceonmars/index.html

Example of Modeled Instrumentation: The Virtual Physics Lab (VPLab)

Simulation interface from the VPLab on elasticity showing key features and tools to conduct experiments on different wire types. (Dr. J. Nunn).

http://www.vplab.co.uk/

Example: Virtual Chemistry Laboratory for Schools (Morozov et al. (2004) Provides students with practice on laboratory techniques, learning the assembly of laboratory apparatus, providing a safe environment, developing note taking and analysis skills, honing manipulative skills, and working in a ‘fun’ environment

Simulation Links

Center for Human Simulation: (Movies 3D Polygons)http://www.uchsc.edu/sm/chs/gallery/gallery.htm

Howard Hughes Medical Institute : VR Simulationshttp://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs/index.html

Focus: 3D Virtual Science Worlds

Science in Second LifeA significant number of science- related islands have been developed.Example: Kansas State University has recently introduced TerraWorld, an SL island that explores historical geology at the high school level.

You-Tube Summaries of Science in Second Life

http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=24B05514EE4F11DCA88E000423CF382E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc

Second Life’s own summary

BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF 3D OBJECTS AND VIRTUAL WORLDS

Benefits of 3D Simulations and Worlds

1) a technique to investigate the detailed dynamics of a system.

2) a heuristic tool to develop hypotheses, models and theories.

3) a substitute for a numerical experiment.

4) a tool for experimentation. 5) a pedagogical tool to help

understand a process.Hartmann, (1996)

The beneficial features of 3D virtual worlds for science education

1) graphically rich and compelling 3D contexts for situated learning.

2) views of objects from multiple perspectives. 3) potential learner interactions with objects.4) safety from danger experiments.5) experiential, learn by doing opportunities. 6) personalization of learning environments.7) interactive and collaborative learning

across time and space8) a self-selected identity

(Dickey, 2003).

3-D Challenges Both basic and virtual reality 3D can be

expensive to produce, requiring specialized software and appropriately trained faculty/developers.

Basic 3D can lose the detail of surface textures.

Virtual reality 3D may lose some aspects of depth.

It can take time to learn to navigate the virtual environment.

3-D Challenges Cont. The effort required to develop the world may be

disproportionate to the learning objectives. Student exploration of the virtual world may be

inefficient without clear guidance for tasks. Students might be sidetracked from carrying out

the learning objectives. The possible elevated technological requirements. VR may be intimidating to non-technical

disciplines (The Educause Learning Initiative, 2006).