i-manager Publications

Teaching Digital Natives: 3-D Virtual Science Lab In The Middle School Science Classroom

Teresa J.Franklin*

* Assistant Professor, Instructional Technology, Ohio University

Periodicity:January - March'2008
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jet.4.4.577

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a 3-D virtual environment in Second Life for the delivery of standards-based science content for middle school students in the rural Appalachian region of Southeast Ohio. A mixed method approach in which quantitative results of improved student learning and qualitative observations of implementation within middle school classrooms are provided. The Interactive Science Lab Game found in the Teen Grid of Second Life has been used for the past year to improve the understanding of genetics (Fruit Fly Experiment) and Gallery Walk was used to improve the learning of science in grades 6 to 8. Participant teacher reactions and concerns in the use of 3-D simulations in middle school will be addressed.

Keywords

Virtual Environments, 3-D software, Second Life, middle school, science education, digital natives

How to Cite this Article?

Teresa J. Franklin (2008). Teaching Digital Natives: 3-D Virtual Science Lab In The Middle School Science Classroom. i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, 4(4), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.26634/jet.4.4.577

References

[1]. Annetta, L. (2007, Nov/Dec). Video Games and Simulations as Teaching Tools. Multimedia & Internet@Schools. 14(6), pps. 9-13.

[2]. Boulos, M.N., Hetherington, L, & Wheeler, S. (2007). Second Life: an overview of the potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health education. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 24, 233–245.

[3]. de Freitas, S. (2006). Learning in immersive worlds: A review of game-based learning. JSIC e-Learning Programme.

[4]. Downes, T. (1999). Playing with computing technologies in the home, Education and Information Technologies, 4, 65-79.

[5]. Glesne, C. (1999). Becoming a qualitative researchers. New York: Longman.

[6]. Gros, B. (2007). Digital games in education: The design of games-based learning environments. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 2007, 40(1), 23–38.

[7]. Leach, J. & Scott, P. (2003). Individual and sociocultural views of learning in science education. Science and Education, 12, 91-113.

[8]. Prensky, M. (2005). Listen to the natives. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Educational Leadership, Dec 2005-Jan 2006, 9-13.

[9]. Rymaszewski, M., Au, W., Wallace, M., Winters, C., Ondrejka, C., & Batsone-Cunningham, B. (2007). Second Life the Official Guide. John Wiley & Sons, Inc: New Jersey

[10]. Sinclair, B. (2007). NPD: Game industry reaches $12.5 billion in '06.

[11]. Tekaat-Davey, D. (2006) Virtual learning is the real thing.

[12]. Yair, Y., Mintz, R. & Litvak, S. (2001) 3D virtual reality in science education: an implication for astronomy teaching, Journal in Mathematics and Science Technology, 20(3), 293-305.

	North Americas,UK, Middle East,Europe		India	Rest of world
	USD	EUR	INR	USD-ROW
Pdf	35	35	200	20
Online	35	35	200	15
Pdf & Online	35	35	400	25

Teaching Digital Natives: 3-D Virtual Science Lab In The Middle School Science Classroom

Abstract

Keywords

How to Cite this Article?

References

If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Options for accessing this content: