The Geology Explorer Brian M. Slator1, Donald P. Schwert2, and Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat2 1Computer Science, 2Geosciences North Dakota State University

Educational Role-playing Games “Learning-by-doing” Experiences Multi-User Exploratory Spatially-oriented virtual worlds Practical planning and decision making

Educational Role-playing Games “Learning-by-doing” Experiences Authentic problem solving “Hands on” scientific method Real-world content Promoting mature thinking

Advantages of Virtual Worlds Collapse virtual time and distance Allow physical or practical impossibilities Participate from anywhere Interact with other users, virtual artifacts, and software agents Multi-user collaborations and competitive play

Technical Approaches Networked, internet-based, client-server environment Multi-Player (MUD, MOO) Simulation-based Implemented in Java applets

The Virtual World of Planet Oit Planet Oit: Recently discovered Authentic geologic context Similar to Earth, same orbit Opposite the Sun

Student undertakes same decision-making processes as a “real” geologist Can be implemented for all levels, including Grade 7 through college First version: basic planetary exploration for minerals and rocks

The Planet Oit Game You are a geologist Explore this new planet! Encounter authentic geology Assess geologic resources & processes This motivates student to learn geologic content

Planet Oit 50 Places 90 Different Rocks and Minerals 15 Field Instruments 25 Laboratory Instruments Software Tutors

Text-Based Interface

Text-Based Interface

Resources: User Card

Resources: Equipment Item Price | Item Price Acid Bottle (#597) $ 1.00 | Lantern (#973) $ 25.00 Altimeter (#675) $ 100.00 | Light Meter (#556) $ 25.00 Anemometer (#568) $ 30.00 | Magnet (#580) $ 1.00 Barometer (#410) $ 50.00 | Microscope (#612) $ 25.00 Black Light (#625) $ 30.00 | Rock Pick/Hammer (#370) $ 40.00 Compass (#561) $ 200.00 | Sextant (#554) $ 100.00 Flowmeter (#598) $ 100.00 | Sonar (#593) $ 200.00 Geiger Counter (#751) $ 178.00 | Spirit Level (#335) $ 5.00 Glass Plate (#583) $ 0.50 | Streak Plate (#542) $ 0.50 Goniometer (#613) $ 1.00 | Tape Measure (#626) $ 10.00 Gravimeter (#708) $10000.00 | Thermometer (#223) $ 5.00 Hand Lens (#2178) $ 15.00 | Transit (#364) $ 100.00 Jack Hammer (#368) $ 300.00 | Water Level Gage (#615) $ 5.00

Resources: The Museum The Mineral Collection The Mineral Room houses the Mineral Collection. A sign on the wall says "Feel free to look around, but please do not remove the samples". Obvious exits are: West You see Diaspore (#333), Hornblende (#363), Chromite (#381), Gibbsite (#457), Native Silver (#251), Biotite Mica (#246), Sphalerite (#560), Chalcopyrite (#563), Boehmite (#565), Garnet (#355), Anhydrite (#582), Ilmenite (#584), Nepheline (#596), Muscovite Mica (#611), Magnetite (#627), Wollastonite (#635), Dolomite (#640), Pyroxene (#650), Native Copper (#673), Serpentine (#226), Potassic Feldspar (#324), Talc (#325), Plagioclase Feldspar (#360), Fluorite (#509), Clay (#262), Galena (#138), Pyrite (#336), Tourmaline (#530), Graphite (#571), Halite (#373), Gypsum (#552), Calcite (#463), Hematite (#608), Olivine (#617), Native Gold (#657), Quartz (#674), Rhodonite (#653), Diamond (#812), Purple Quartz (#1864), White Gypsum (#1865), Ice (#2055), Chlorite (#2056), Corundum (#3044), Topaz (#3043), Orthoclase Feldspar (#3042), Apatite (#3041), and Native Sulfur (#1159) here.

Resources: Help help fluorite Fluorite (mineral) Fluorite is a common and widely distributed mineral often found in hydrothermal veins or in association with lead and silver ores. form: usually cubic or octahedral color: blue or purple texture: smooth streak: white luster: vitreous transparency: transparent to translucent hardness: 4.0 Acid reaction: not reactive

Resources: Tutor east A clap of thunder splits the air, and a tutor appears in your midst. TUTOR: You just left White and Black Dike containing your goal: Potassic Feldspar The TUTOR bends at the waist and disappears in a puff of smoke. You can't streak without a streak plate. streak #1992 with glass plate

1. Student is Assigned a Goal Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 1. Student is Assigned a Goal You have a general goal: to 'report' all the rocks and minerals you find. You also have a specific goal: to 'report' the identity of Fluorite Fluorite is a purple vitreous smooth-faced mineral. Fluorite is used to make flux. To see this message again, type '@showgoal' or 'showgoal'

Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 2. Student Navigates You are standing by a large cave entrance cut into a sheer rock face. * To the South is a Deep Valley * To the Southwest are the Young Mountains * To the West is a Steep Ledge * To the Northwest is a Steep Cliff * 'Enter' will get you into the Cave. Obvious exits are: enter South Southwest West Northwest You see light grey compact fine-grained outcrop (#1945), purple vitreous smooth-faced vein (#1989), and yellowish brown resinous vein (#1998) here.

3. Student Performs Experiments Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 3. Student Performs Experiments hit #1989 with rock pick Swoosh...the Rock Pick/Hammer (#2062) arcs towards the purple vitreous smooth-faced vein (#1989) A purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969) appears in your inventory pour acid on #5969 You hear the sound of pouring and .... Nothing happens

4. Student Continues Experiments Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 4. Student Continues Experiments taste #5969 You put your tongue onto purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969) and detect no taste touch #5969 with magnet As the magnet approaches the purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969)... Nothing happens.

5. Student Continues Experiments Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 5. Student Continues Experiments scratch glass with #5969 You scratch Glass Plate (#2064) with purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969) ...Glass Plate (#2064) scratches purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969)

6. Student Achieves Goal report #5969 as fluorite Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 6. Student Achieves Goal report #5969 as fluorite Checking: purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969) against fluorite. You are right! purple vitreous smooth-faced sample (#5969) IS fluorite. You have satisfied your primary goal! You score 100 points.

7. Student is Assigned New Goal Doing Science: A Transcript of the Text-based Interface 7. Student is Assigned New Goal Assigning new goal for session: 11/30/99 at 1:13 p.m. As a player in the Geology Explorer You have accomplished your third goal and are playing at the advanced level. You have a general goal: to 'report' all the rocks and minerals you find. You also have a specific goal: to 'report' the identity of Potassic Feldspar Potassic Feldspar is a mineral.

(from text to graphics) Maps of Planet Oit (from text to graphics)

The Geology Explorer (Graphical Prototype)

Virtual Field Instruments

The Geology Explorer (Navigating on Planet Oit)

Intelligent Tutoring Geology Explorer: The simulation can track actions The simulation can generate warnings and explanations Tutor “visits” are triggered by user action

Tutors are Needed In Virtual Environments: Students can join from any remote location They can log in at any time of day or night Human tutors cannot be available at all times to help Students can make mistakes and not know why

Tutors are Needed In Virtual Environments: Student interacts with the intelligent tutoring agent Students can ignore advice and carry on at their own risk

Software Tutoring Agents

Software Tutoring Agents Deductive Tutoring: Provides assistance with deductive reasoning needed to solve a scientific problem Case-based Tutoring: Presents examples of relevant experience (case studies) Rule-based Tutoring: Provides assistance when student actions break encoded rules for the domain

Authentic Assessment Assessment in authentic contexts Recall of strategies and concepts Not “multiple choice” recognition Content specific: Geology Problem solving, hypothesis formation, deductive reasoning

Authentic tasks require authentic assessment To understand science is to: understand the activities of scientists understand the tools of scientists

Scenarios Student presents subjective response to a scenario Scenario is a story, in which a geologic problem is presented Student is encouraged to present a solution

Example of a Scenario You are in northern Manitoba on a fishing trip. Fishing has been good. At dawn on the day of your departure, you cut across country to a remote bay and have more good luck: you catch your limit of walleye. On the way back to the lodge, you stumble across a heavy, moss-covered rock on the shoreline, flipping it over. Looking down, you see the underside of the rock shining with a brilliant metallic yellow. You pick up the rock and lug it back to the lodge. At the airport luggage check-in, the baggage agent notes that you are 20 kg overweight . . . . . . exactly the weight of the rock that you found. He says, “It’s okay to ship rocks back to the States, eh, but at $15 per kilogram, you’re going to owe $300!” As a geologist, what do you do? Please respond to the following:

Scenario Questions List the questions that you would ask yourself, and give reasons behind asking those particular questions: List the factors that you would consider in making your final decision:

Procedures for Assessment by Scenario Assess computer literacy Pre-Test: Present scenario, students propose course of action or solution Engage students in learning experience (Control and experimental groups) Post-Test: Present similar scenario, student response Analyze assessment data

Assessment Protocol, Fall, 1998 The Geology Explorer: Assessment Protocol, Fall, 1998 Pre-course Assessment: 400+ students Computer Literacy Assessment: (244 volunteers) Divide by Computer Literacy and Geology Lab Experience Non-Participant Control Group: (150 students, approx.) Geology Explorer Treatment Group: (122 students) Geomagnetic (Alternative) Group: (122 students) Completed (78 students) Non-completed (44 students) Completed (95 students) Non-completed (27 students) Post-course Assessment: 368 students

Scenario Evaluation Scenarios evaluated by a trained individual Scenario judging is then replicated for reliability using a second, trained Additional validation can be accomplished within standard testing

Fall, 1998, Test Results: Results of a Duncan test showed that the Geology Explorer group was significantly different . . . with the nature of the signifi- cance being a higher average score for the Geology Explorer group.

95% Confidence Intervals for Mean Scores on Post Experience Scenario Assessments Group No. Mean score 95% CI Alternate 104 17.0 4.8 Control 157 19.4 5.0 Planet Oit 65 31.8 4.9 Alternate Exercise Group Control Group Planet Oit Group 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 mean score

To “Visit” Planet Oit: oit.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu