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TITLE
VirtualScience
LEARNING OBJECT
Virtual world focused on Maths and Science
WEBSITE OF THE PRODUCT
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Michelina Occhioni
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Downloadable software, Online Game
SUBJECT TAUGHT
Math, Chemistry, Natural Science, Biology, Physics, Technology
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE
Medium
TARGET GROUP AGE
14 – 16 years old
LANGUAGE/S OF TEACHING RESOURCES
Math
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
Virtual Science is born from the desire to share teaching experiences with other teachers in sciences and in particular the application of new technologies in teaching, virtual education and e-learning in general.
The project is based on the building of a 3D virtual world by an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D software called OpenSim for educational purposes.
OpenSimulator is an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols, see Connecting. Optional Hypergrid allow users to visit other OpenSimulator installations across the web from their 'home' installation or grid. In this way, it is the basis of a nascent distributed Metaverse. OpenSimulator allows virtual world developers to customize their worlds using the technologies they feel work best, designed the framework to be easily extensible. OpenSimulator is written in C#, running both on Windows over the .NET Framework and on Unix-like machines over the Mono framework.
Thanks to Opensim it was created Techland that is a virtual world created with Opensim technology for educational purposes.
The aim of Techland is to stimulate pupils' creativity and imagination; to bring them closer to the study of science with curiosity and to facilitate their learning, as well as to direct them towards a correct use of the internet and everything virtual.
Techland currently consists of about ten "thematic islands" (called sim):
-Techland (main reception island that contains informative material for new users and explanations about the various sim accessible via hyperlink or teleport).
-Mathland (the city of mathematics and in particular of solids geometry)
-Chemland (sim dedicated to chemistry: atomic models, "animated" reactions, elements and compounds)
-Bioland (Reconstruction of natural environments and cell biology)
-Earthland (study of the disciplines of Planet Earth: the layers of the atmosphere, the water cycle...)
-Powerland (renewable energy resources - cl@ssi 2.0 project)
-Idealcity (reconstruction of the historic centre of Muro Leccese - cl@ssi 2.0 project)
-Underworld (the underwater world)
-TechStore (service sim used as a warehouse for objects and textures)
-Tech Sandbox (service area for experimenting with the construction of objects).
The project is based on the building of a 3D virtual world by an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D software called OpenSim for educational purposes.
OpenSimulator is an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols, see Connecting. Optional Hypergrid allow users to visit other OpenSimulator installations across the web from their 'home' installation or grid. In this way, it is the basis of a nascent distributed Metaverse. OpenSimulator allows virtual world developers to customize their worlds using the technologies they feel work best, designed the framework to be easily extensible. OpenSimulator is written in C#, running both on Windows over the .NET Framework and on Unix-like machines over the Mono framework.
Thanks to Opensim it was created Techland that is a virtual world created with Opensim technology for educational purposes.
The aim of Techland is to stimulate pupils' creativity and imagination; to bring them closer to the study of science with curiosity and to facilitate their learning, as well as to direct them towards a correct use of the internet and everything virtual.
Techland currently consists of about ten "thematic islands" (called sim):
-Techland (main reception island that contains informative material for new users and explanations about the various sim accessible via hyperlink or teleport).
-Mathland (the city of mathematics and in particular of solids geometry)
-Chemland (sim dedicated to chemistry: atomic models, "animated" reactions, elements and compounds)
-Bioland (Reconstruction of natural environments and cell biology)
-Earthland (study of the disciplines of Planet Earth: the layers of the atmosphere, the water cycle...)
-Powerland (renewable energy resources - cl@ssi 2.0 project)
-Idealcity (reconstruction of the historic centre of Muro Leccese - cl@ssi 2.0 project)
-Underworld (the underwater world)
-TechStore (service sim used as a warehouse for objects and textures)
-Tech Sandbox (service area for experimenting with the construction of objects).
INNOVATIVE LEARNING OBJECT
1. The teacher uses the software to Introduce the “problem”: “How would you like to redesign your town?”
2. Students will be asked to start working on the same challenge, in groups of 4 students.
3. Students will be asked to play "Idealcity (reconstruction of the historic centre of Muro Leccese - cl@ssi 2.0 project)".
4. Then, students will have to recognize the targets that need to be worked on and investigate and discuss solutions in order to solve the problem.
5. Students will prepare a detailed plan of the new redesigned town using SmartDraw or other open software and present solutions in-group work.
6. Final class reflection about the work presented and synthesis of it made by the teacher and the students.
2. Students will be asked to start working on the same challenge, in groups of 4 students.
3. Students will be asked to play "Idealcity (reconstruction of the historic centre of Muro Leccese - cl@ssi 2.0 project)".
4. Then, students will have to recognize the targets that need to be worked on and investigate and discuss solutions in order to solve the problem.
5. Students will prepare a detailed plan of the new redesigned town using SmartDraw or other open software and present solutions in-group work.
6. Final class reflection about the work presented and synthesis of it made by the teacher and the students.
EXPERT'S COMMENT
Techland is an OpenSim virtual group of educational and service islands focused on Maths and Science for K6–K8 degree students.
Since 2010 it has worked to engage pupils and to make learning easier. Students and teachers log in as avatars and explore, meet together, collaborate, build and code, expressing creativity and knowledge.
Year by year teachers’ and students’ activities have continuously developed and improved, tending to be harmonized and blended together.
Students also actively contribute building from scratch entire islands focused on specific topics.
Learning by doing and collaborative learning join together in the Inquiry-based learning methodology where teachers facilitate and support learning.
In the field of education, particularly in science and technology, it is useful to simulate phenomena, to study the geometry of solids and rebuilding natural environments. In fact, the modeling of scientific phenomena is important to understand them, considering that a fun and motivating environment is essential for learning.
References
ttp://login.francogrid.org:80/
http://techlandgrid.it:8002
http://login.osgrid.org
http://www.scuola-digitale.it/ed-mondo/progetto/info/
http://craft-world.org:8002/
http://www.Craft-world.org
Since 2010 it has worked to engage pupils and to make learning easier. Students and teachers log in as avatars and explore, meet together, collaborate, build and code, expressing creativity and knowledge.
Year by year teachers’ and students’ activities have continuously developed and improved, tending to be harmonized and blended together.
Students also actively contribute building from scratch entire islands focused on specific topics.
Learning by doing and collaborative learning join together in the Inquiry-based learning methodology where teachers facilitate and support learning.
In the field of education, particularly in science and technology, it is useful to simulate phenomena, to study the geometry of solids and rebuilding natural environments. In fact, the modeling of scientific phenomena is important to understand them, considering that a fun and motivating environment is essential for learning.
References
ttp://login.francogrid.org:80/
http://techlandgrid.it:8002
http://login.osgrid.org
http://www.scuola-digitale.it/ed-mondo/progetto/info/
http://craft-world.org:8002/
http://www.Craft-world.org
TEACHER'S COMMENT
Virtual Science is born from the desire to share teaching experiences with other teachers in
sciences and in particular the application of new technologies in teaching, virtual education and e-
learning in general.
The project is based on the building of a 3D virtual world by an open source multi-platform, multi-
user 3D software called OpenSim for educational purposes. Techland is an OpenSim virtual group
of educational and service islands focused on Maths and Science for K6–K8 degree students. The
aim of Techland is to stimulate pupils' creativity and imagination; to bring them closer to the study
of science with curiosity and to facilitate their learning, as well as to direct them towards a correct
use of the internet and everything virtual.
This tool has great potentiality in terms of pupils engagement, since it stimulates and enforces
visual skills and learning-by-doing approach to educational purposes.
In a technical high school it could represent the concrete opportunity for the implementation of an
interdisciplinary educational project. The aim of the all project could be the creation of a virtual
Physics laboratory where students could perform the historical experiments that changed our lives
across centuries.
It is not so often possible for students to get in touch with real laboratories where this kind of
experiments could be performed. Adding then a new island (SIM) to Techland called Physicsland
could represent a real opportunity for students to experiment physics from bottom-up.
Furthermore, the SIM could be implemented year by year and changed following evolution of
students and teacher’s interests.
At first it is necessary to get friendly with OpenSim in order to reach the final goal of a new
educational and service island to be added to Techland. This kind of educational approach requires
a dedicated and proper training for teachers that come to this virtual world for the first time, but it
could be a valid challenge to be undertaken!
Using both Chemland and the just born Physicsland the educational aim of the tool could be
extended to make teaching of science more and more unitary.
The new island could be divided in different laboratories, following the chronological development
of scientific discoveries, also adding environments details according to the historical period and
linking to other SIMS where could be created a reconstruction of the historical events connected
with the same period of each scientific experiment involved, making scientific storytelling, for
example.
Furthermore, it is possible to add objects with extra functions that can be implemented by script
languages, e.g. by Scratch.
Virtual science is then a rich new world to be explored and to be enjoyed.
sciences and in particular the application of new technologies in teaching, virtual education and e-
learning in general.
The project is based on the building of a 3D virtual world by an open source multi-platform, multi-
user 3D software called OpenSim for educational purposes. Techland is an OpenSim virtual group
of educational and service islands focused on Maths and Science for K6–K8 degree students. The
aim of Techland is to stimulate pupils' creativity and imagination; to bring them closer to the study
of science with curiosity and to facilitate their learning, as well as to direct them towards a correct
use of the internet and everything virtual.
This tool has great potentiality in terms of pupils engagement, since it stimulates and enforces
visual skills and learning-by-doing approach to educational purposes.
In a technical high school it could represent the concrete opportunity for the implementation of an
interdisciplinary educational project. The aim of the all project could be the creation of a virtual
Physics laboratory where students could perform the historical experiments that changed our lives
across centuries.
It is not so often possible for students to get in touch with real laboratories where this kind of
experiments could be performed. Adding then a new island (SIM) to Techland called Physicsland
could represent a real opportunity for students to experiment physics from bottom-up.
Furthermore, the SIM could be implemented year by year and changed following evolution of
students and teacher’s interests.
At first it is necessary to get friendly with OpenSim in order to reach the final goal of a new
educational and service island to be added to Techland. This kind of educational approach requires
a dedicated and proper training for teachers that come to this virtual world for the first time, but it
could be a valid challenge to be undertaken!
Using both Chemland and the just born Physicsland the educational aim of the tool could be
extended to make teaching of science more and more unitary.
The new island could be divided in different laboratories, following the chronological development
of scientific discoveries, also adding environments details according to the historical period and
linking to other SIMS where could be created a reconstruction of the historical events connected
with the same period of each scientific experiment involved, making scientific storytelling, for
example.
Furthermore, it is possible to add objects with extra functions that can be implemented by script
languages, e.g. by Scratch.
Virtual science is then a rich new world to be explored and to be enjoyed.