Adapting 3D Visualizations to Meet the Needs of Educators in Earth and Space Sciences
Abstract
Advances in web-based immersive environments, the rapid evolution of virtual reality, and the recent emergence of augmented reality are rapidly expanding the tools available for science education. These interactive 3D technologies promise to change the way that many important scientific concepts are taught.
NASA's rich supply of data and subject matter experts have led to creation of amazing 3D visualizations of scientific phenomena, but they are not easily adopted by educators because they are not designed to align with their needs, are too complex for rapid mastery and deployment, and usually lack built-in tutored learning pathways. Also, educators desire flexibility to customize and adapt resources for their individual classrooms and varied audiences.Teachers need such flexibility paired with an appropriate context to integrate such digital resources into their standards-aligned curricula. Guided by a pilot NGSS-aligned needs assessment, the Center for Education Through Exploration at ASU, working with partners such as NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and Goddard Space Flight Center, and edtech pioneer Smart Sparrow, is developing interactive, digitally tutored learning experiences that take advantage of 3D technologies to empower learners to explore Earth and space science concepts such as phases of the Moon, eclipses, and seasons. These topics meet needs as identified by educators. They are also inherently spatial and therefore benefit greatly from 3D modes of exploration that allow students to discover basic relationships for themselves with the assistance of personalized feedback.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMED32A..06A
- Keywords:
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- 0805 Elementary and secondary education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0845 Instructional tools;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0850 Geoscience education research;
- EDUCATION