Authors: Moher, T., Johnson, A., Ohlsson, S., Gillingham, M.

Publication: Proceedings of CHI ’99, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pp. 536-543

URL: http://www.evl.uic.edu/aej/papers/chihtml/chi99paper.htm

A distributed immersive virtual environment was deployed as a component of a pedagogical strategy for teaching third grade children that the Earth is round. The displacement strategy is based on the theory that fundamental conceptual change requires an alternative cognitive starting point which doesn’t invoke the features of pre-existing models. While the VR apparatus helped to establish that alternative framework, conceptual change was strongly influenced by the bridging activities which related that experience to the target domain. Simple declarations of relevance proved ineffective. A more articulated bridging process involving physical models was effective for some children, but the multiple representations employed required too much model-matching for others.

Date: May 15, 1999 - May 20, 1999

Related Entries

Directory:

• Andrew Johnson
• Tom Moher

Events:

• Moher Presents at CHI ’99

Research:

• The Round Earth Project
• N.I.C.E: Narrative-based Immersive Constructionists / Collaborative Environments

Related Categories

• Applications
• Education
• VR