Virtual Mapping and Petrologic Interpretation

Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat, and Donald P. Schwert, Dept. of Geosciences;Brian M. Slator, Dept. of Computer ScienceNorth Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

NDSU WWWICWorld Wide Web Instructional Committee

Paul Juell

Donald SchwertPhilip McClean

Brian SlatorBernhardt Saini-Eidukat

Alan White

WWWIC faculty supported by large teams of undergraduate and graduate students

WWWIC’s virtual worlds research supported by NSF grants DUE-9752548, EAR-9809761 and DUE-9981094

The Geology Explorer Project

Educational Game designed to provide authentic learn-by-doing experience

•Exploration of a spatially oriented virtual world•Practical, field oriented, expedition planning and

decision making•Scientific problem solving (i.e., a “hands on”

approach to the scientific method

Balancing Pedagogy with

Play

Games have the capacity to engage!

• Powerful mechanisms for instruction

• Illustrate real-world content and structure

• Promote strategic maturity (“learning not the law, but learning to think like a lawyer”)

Technical Approach

• Networked, internet based, client-server simulation

• UNIX-based MOO (Multi-User Dungeon, Object Oriented)

• Java-based clients (text version - telnet based; graphical version in development)

The Game

•Planet Oit - similar to Earth, but opposite the Sun

•Students “land” on Oit to undertake exploration

•Authentic Geoscience goals - e.g., to locate, identify, and report valuable minerals

The Simulation

~50 places: desert, cutbank, cave, etc.

~100 different rocks and minerals

~15 field instruments: rock pick, acid bottle, magnet, etc.

~Software Tutors: agents for equipment, exploration, and deduction

Experiments

Fall 1998 and 1999>400 students in large (>400) non-major Intro class, split into 3 groups

• Planet Oit• Geomagnetic Web-based (alternative)• Control (non-participant)

Rejects the notion of standardized multiple choice tests

Pre-game narrative-based survey• short problem-solving stories • students record their impressions and questions

Similar post-game survey with different but analogous scenarios

Surveys analyzed for improvement in problem-solving

Subjective Assessment

A Transcript<the player logs on as demoplayer>

Welcome to the NDSU/CS Geology Explorer MOO

We are implementing Planet Oit for you to explore in order to learn something about geology.

*** Connected ***You are standing in the middle of the expedition staging area

on the surface of Planet Oit. You see a spaceship on the ground with its bay doors open, exposing a laboratory within. A glorious panorama spreads out on all sides.

There is a Way Station here* To the North is a Seashore* To the Northeast are the Hills* To the East are the Old Mountains* To the Southeast is a Laboratory* To the South is a Desert* To the Southwest are the Plains* To the West are the Young Mountains* To the Northwest is a LakeObvious exits are: Down Station North Northeast East

Southeast South Southwest West Northwest

Database Map of Planet Oit

A TranscriptAs a player in the Geology Explorer You have reached no goals yet, and you are playing at the beginner

level. You have a general goal: to 'report' all the rocks and minerals you

find and a specific goal: to 'report' the location of Native Copper. Native Copper is a reddish metallic mineral. Native Copper is used in electronics. You can expect to find Native Copper in Desert (#147) In particular, you should look in Plateau with Fissure (#350).To see this message again, type '@showgoal' or 'showgoal'

=> SOUTHEASTLaboratoryYou are standing in the laboratory of a spaceship, you are surrounded by

many instruments.A sign on the wall says, 'You can buy field instruments to the East.' The sign continues: 'You can use these lab instruments by bringing samples back

here.'* To the East is a Shopping Center* To the South is a Rock Museum* To the Northwest is Planet-OitObvious exits are: East South Northwest

=> EASTCrazy Eddie's Geology Equipment EmporiumCrazy Eddie's is the place to go to fill all your geology field equipment needs. Aisle

after aisle of merchandise makes this place into a maze.You could easily get lost in here without assistance.

A large sign on the far wall reads:

Trouble finding what you're looking for? Look it up in our catalog!

(Never mind the cost -- everything is free)

Obvious exits are: WestYou see Crazy Eddie and Catalog here.Crazy Eddie says, "Hello, demoplayer. Welcome to Crazy Eddie's Geology Equipment Emporium!Crazy Eddie says, "I've got the best deals on Planet Oit!"Crazy Eddie asks, "Can I get you anything?"

=> LOOK CATALOG **** Crazy Eddie's Mail Order Catalog ****

Item Price | Item PriceAcid Bottle (#597) $ 1.00 | Light Meter (#556) $25.00Altimeter (#675) $ 100.00 | Magnet (#580) $1.00Anemometer (#568) $ 30.00 | Microscope (#612) $25.00Barometer (#410) $ 50.00 | Rock Pick/Hammer (#370) $40.00Black Light (#625) $ 30.00 | Sextant (#554) $100.00Compass (#561) $ 200.00 | Sonar (#593) $200.00Flowmeter (#598) $ 100.00 | Spirit Level (#335) $5.00Geiger Counter (#751) $ 178.00 | Streak Plate (#542) $0.50Glass Plate (#583) $ 0.50 | Tape Measure (#626) $10.00Goniometer (#613) $ 1.00 | Thermometer (#223) $5.00Gravimeter (#708) $10000.00 | Transit (#364) $10.00Jack Hammer (#368) $ 300.00 | Water Level Gage (#615) $5.00

=>WESTCinder ConeYou are standing at the base of conical hill formed by the accumulation

of cinders around a volcanic vent. The landscape here is brown and black, there is very little in terms of green growing things. The air smells faintly of sulfur.

* To the East is a Plateau with Fissure* To the Southeast is a Desert* To the South is a Reddish Butte* To the Southwest is a Cave

Obvious exits are: East Southeast South SouthwestYou see dull reddish porous medium-grained outcrop (#1923), dark gray fine-grained outcrop (#2082), black smooth glassy block (#2087), and

grayish white rough glassy porous block (#2100) here.

<the player is visited by the tutor>

A clap of thunder splits the air, and a tutor appears in your midst The tutor appears to be speaking to demoplayerTUTOR: You just left Plateau with Fissure containing your goal: Native

CopperThe TUTOR bends at the waist and disappears in a puff of smoke

<the player returns to the Plateau with Fissure>

Deductive Tutors

1. Equipment tutor

2. Exploration tutor

3. Science tutor

Detects when a student makes a wrong guess and why (i.e. what evidence they are lacking); or when a student makes a correct guess with insufficient evidence (i.e. a lucky guess)

Intelligent Software Tutoring Agents

Virtual Mapping and Petrology

SS

LS

SS

Schist 1

Marble

Qzite

Sch2

QtziteDike

Sch2 Gneiss

LSMarble

Qzite

Qzite

SS

SS

Schematic map - not to scale

SS

LS

SS

Schist 1

Marble

Qzite

Sch2

QtziteDike

Sch2 Gneiss

LSMarble

Qzite

Qzite

SS

SS

Virtual Mapping and Petrology

First Set of Goals• Locate Geologic Contacts• General Rock Identification• Put Geologic Events in a Reasonable Order

Advanced Goals• Identify the Metamorphic ‘basement’rocks• Make Thin Sections and Examine• Microprobe Analyses of Relevant Minerals• Thermobarometry

Graphical Navigation

The Future is GUI

• Virtual Environments• Authentic Experiences• Active Learningare valuable adjuncts to traditional learning

Implementation:• Networked, Multi-player• Simulation-based• Interactive• Multi-media, highly graphical

Educational environments

Conclusions

http://oit.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu

World Wide Web Instructional Committee (WWWIC)

North Dakota State UniversityFargo ND