Virtual Worlds in Education

by Tyler Kuckleman
CTE WebMaster

Humans seem to have an almost unlimited capacity for imagining that which we cannot physically touch, view or otherwise interact. From digital art to computer-aided design (CAD), virtual representations of reality allow us to expand what we know about our physical world using simulated environments. Reality aids the virtual creation process by allowing us to apply proven rules and restrictions. This process is at the heart of helping us to understand complex systems, such as that of our universe.

By applying virtual worlds to education, it allows us to explore subjects that are beyond current physical and technical limitations. For example, we can experience environments that are hostile to human life, hypothetical, or that bend the laws of nature. We can build future systems and determine their feasibility without exhausting limited resources.

The following selection of tools focus on areas of study which allow students to expand their knowledge through the use of virtually simulated worlds:

 

http://workshop.chromeexperiments.com/stars/

Explore a 100,000-star map of the galaxy with a guided tour or on your own. As an added bonus, the simulation is accompanied by a musical score that suggests the vastness and mystery of space. Make sure to use a modern (HTML5-supported) web browser!

 

Computer-aided design (CAD) tools

Although not technically a virtual world, CAD software, such as the popular AutoCAD, allows architects and engineers to draft and design functional objects within a virtual environment. Most CAD software demand a high level of complexity, and new users are wise to begin by loading existing demo projects, paying attention to construction and design specifications.

 

Unity (Unity3D)

Marketed as an engine to create 3D (and 2D) games, Unity is a formidable virtual world builder, complete with realistic physics and scripting engines (1). Potential projects range from simulating how set lighting affects surrounding objects to visualizing physics principles in real-time.

 

Second Life (SL)

Second Life is a popular online virtual world that has many ties to the real world. Citizens of SL have directed and produced their own virtual movies. Companies have used their presence in SL for recruitment, allowing prospective candidates to receive information and establish relationships before meeting in person. In one study, researchers found SL to have applications for Health Science, including fully constructed labs, a virtual medical library and neurological disability education center (2).

 

Minecraft

The wildly popular, open-world game can also serve as an instructive tool. For architects, Minecraft is a virtual playground where the player is in control of design and construction. From single-room homes to skyscrapers, forging structures in Minecraft is only limited by imagination (particularly in Creative mode, where the builder possesses unlimited blocks). Engineers may use the mineral Redstone to construct objects ranging from electronic circuits with logic gates to moving machines using pistons.

 

Sim City 4

The Sim City games have always relied on critical thinking skills in order to build functional societies. Sim City 4 is a shining example for the series both because it is relatively modern and because it is a refinement of what the series represents. A city's infrastructure, including its government, businesses and economy, must be built up and maintained correctly to succeed.

 

Virtual Reality (VR)

As technology advances, the focus is on crafting more realistic experiences by placing the user inside the virtual world. VR, through audio and visual immersion that relies on sophisticated, typically head-mounted hardware, aims to accomplish this goal; it does so by "tricking" the brain into believing that the virtual world is real. VR has been integrated with game engines like Unity3D to visualize building architecture, by combining the engine with the Oculus Rift headgear (3). Although VR is in its infancy, we can already see its potential for education in the form "hands-on" experience for job training.

 

References

(1) - "What is Unity?" Unity. Unity Technologies, 2014. <http://unity3d.com/pages/what-is-unity>.

(2) - Boulos, Maged N. Kamel, Hetherington, Lee, & Wheeler, Steve. "Second Life: an overview of the potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health education" Health Information & Libraries Journal 24.4 (2007).

(3) - "Oculus Rift and Unity3D for Real-Time Architectural Visualization." Arch Virtual. <http://archvirtual.com/2013/05/28/rift-demo-download-oculus-rift-and-unity3d-for-real-time-architectural-visualization/>.