Technology applications that promote inquiry learning. Sloan-C Conference 2010

Technology Applications that Promote Inquiry

LearningStan Schmidt, Western Governors University

Heather Dodds, Western Governors University16th Annual Sloan Consortium 2010

Pace of change

Gamers =Experts in Virtual

Worlds

Registered users of virtual worlds = over 1

billion

As of September 30, 2010

What are faculty to do?

21st Century Skills

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2009). Framework for 21st century learning.

Definition of Inquiry-based Learning

Inquiry requires identification of assumptions, use of critical and logical

thinking, and consideration of alternative explanations. (NRC, 1996, p 23)

Making observations

Second Life, NOAA

Posing questions

Whyville, Why Pox infection, 2007

Examining books and other sources of information to

see what is already known

Heritage Key

Planning investigations

World of Warcraft

Reviewing what is already known in light of

experimental evidence

Second Life, NASA

Using tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data

Third Rock Grid (3RG)

Proposing answers, explanations, and predictions; and

communicating the results

Second Life, Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable

Science Center, Second Life

Changing Inquiry-based Learning

Second Life exodus

Second Life stopping educational discounts midyear.

Faculty, institutions, non-profits heading out of Second Life for more affordable worlds

OpenSimReaction Grid

JokaydiaGrid

Third Rock Grid

Growing OpenSim worlds

Recommended sources for educators

Sloan-CVirtual Worlds Education Roundtable (VWER)ISTECLIVE Project/ MERLOT

Technology Applications that Promote Inquiry

LearningStan Schmidt, Western Governors University

Heather Dodds, Western Governors University16th Annual Sloan Consortium 2010

Heather.loves.science@gmail.com