1. Integrating Mathematics and Chemistry into a Virtual Environment for Geologic Education Donald P. Schwert, Brian M. Slator, Guy Hokanson, Otto Borchert, Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat, Jeffery Terpstra, John Reber, and Lisa Daniels North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA

2. Research into Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) at NDSU

3. Implementation Goal-oriented.Goal-oriented. Promotes learning-by-doing through exploration and cooperation in multi-user, spatial environments.Promotes learning-by-doing through exploration and cooperation in multi-user, spatial environments. Teachers control parameters for each exercise.Teachers control parameters for each exercise. Student progress can be monitored.Student progress can be monitored. Software agents act as tutors and guides, “24/7”.Software agents act as tutors and guides, “24/7”. Available without cost for any classroom, any user, anywhere.Available without cost for any classroom, any user, anywhere.

4. Geology Explorer oit.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu Newly-discovered planet.Newly-discovered planet. Students assigned exploration tasks.Students assigned exploration tasks. Emulate the practices of being a “geologist.”Emulate the practices of being a “geologist.” Aimed at Grades 6-8.Aimed at Grades 6-8.

6. 2½-D to 3-D Transformation

9. GEOLOGY MATHEMATICS CHEMISTRY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

24. ComparisonPre MeanPost MeanP-value Content Question 10.9620.7690.025 Content Question 20.7310.8460.317 Content Question 30.8080.8460.564 Content Question 40.423 1.000 Content Question 50.4230.5770206 Content Question 60.4620.5000.655 Content Confidence 10.8240.8480.688 Content Confidence 20.7680.8380.107 Content Confidence 30.7600.8480.047 Content Confidence 40.6090.7910.003 Content Confidence 50.8090.9040.055 Content Confidence 60.7140.8330.021 Attitude 11.7691.6150.381 Attitude 21.3851.3080.538 Attitude 31.3851.3080.327 Attitude 40.7690.8850.083 Attitude 51.5771.5000.538 Attitude 61.1921.3460.103 Attitude 72.4232.4610.574 Attitude 81.154 1.000 Statistical Analyses of School Experiments

25. Challenges... Mac compatibility School firewalls Network stability and capacity 3D development is $$$ !!! Undergraduates Partnerships with publishers School cluster capacities Student expectations of 3D environments

26. wwwic.ndsu.eduoit.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grants #0608082 and #IIP0945807 to North Dakota State University.