augmenting elementary school education with vr

• DOI: 10.1109/mcg.2002.10007
• Publication Date: 2002-01-01
• Authors: David Haas; Janet Kim; Andrew Johnson; Y.J. Lin; Yongjoo Cho; Tom Moher
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology

At the University of Illinois at Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory, we use virtual reality technology to complement real-world experiences rather than replace them. For more than two years, we've been deploying ImmersaDesk applications in a Chicago-area elementary school. We want to know whether these virtual environments (VEs) help children make sense of mathematics and scientific phenomena. If so, can educators adapt them to the realities of elementary school learning and teaching? Our experience indicates that VR can successfully augment scientific education as well as help to equalize the learning environment by engaging students of all levels.