PROTOTYPING A 3D MMO VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CHEMISTRY LEARNING
PROTOTYPING A 3D MMO VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CHEMISTRY LEARNING

Summary/Abstract: Many methods and tools used to teach chemistry in laboratories no longer meet the educational needs of students, in terms of scale and intensity of practice. There is a need to develop efficient learning tools and methods, making the best use of modern technologies. Using OpenSim we have created a 3D virtual chemistry laboratory and studied the students’ results and interactions with the virtual lab. Our Virtual Laboratory resembles a traditional chemistry laboratory with all its contents, such as chemical materials, but offers more sources of information and live interactions. Chemical experiments are presented in a fun and exciting way, making the learning process enjoyable. We conducted an experiment with the prototype, using a group of 20 students. Both students and teachers reacted favourably to the virtual chemistry laboratory, showing interest, excitement and enjoyment in using this environment. Important observations regarding the design of the 3D space for optimal interactions were made during the experiments, which set the directions for our future work in improving the system

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