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EcoMUVE is an exciting new curriculum research project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that uses immersive virtual environments to teach middle school students about ecosystems and causal patterns. EcoMUVE includes two one‐week computer‐based modules within a four week inquiry‐based ecosystems curriculum. The goal of the EcoMUVE project is to help students develop a deeper understanding of ecosystems and causal patterns with a curriculum that uses Multi‐User Virtual Environments (MUVEs). MUVEs are 3‐D virtual worlds that have a look and feel similar to videogames. They are accessed via computers and, in our case, recreate authentic ecological settings within which students explore and collect information. Students work individually at their computers and collaborate in teams within the virtual world. The immersive interface allows students to learn science by exploring and solving problems in realistic environments. The EcoMUVE project is supported by the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education.

"One of the things that surprised (and pleased) me this year was the (unprompted) willingness of students to source and implement LSL scripts for their OpenSim builds. It definitely added another dimension to their work. That said, I don't teach a programming course per se so it would be good if students had a simple way to generate script not available "off the shelf"."

Designing Digitally, Inc., the web-based training firm that specializes in E-learning, virtual worlds, and 3D simulations, was recently awarded a 2011 Air Force Virtual World contract from the United States Air Force Research Laboratory located in Dayton, Ohio. This means the simulation experts at Designing Digitally, Inc. will dedicate the next year to creating an OpenSim virtual world grid, called Virtual Discovery Lab (ViDL), in which high school and college students can explore these technical topics in a hands-on, educational environment.

New educational world on ReactionGrid

A student OpenSim project.

Cram, A., Hedberg, J., Lumkin, K. & Eade, J. (2010). Learning through Design and Construction in Multi-User Virtual Environments: Opportunities, Challenges and an Emerging Project. In Proceedings of Global Learn Asia Pacific 2010 (pp. 1185-1194). AACE. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/34325.

Good tool for accessibility or teaching students to read.

The students were inspired by the Van Gogh video on OpenSim and given the brief: 1) to create an appearance for their Avatar, 2) To create somewhere to sit and 3) to create some form of shelter for their avatar on their island.

Let-Us-Learn is an international project that aims to investigate the potential of a 3D virtual learning environment (3DVLE) designed to engage learners in collaborative, creative problem solving activities in which numeracy, literacy, life skills and creative activities are embedded in a motivating game-like environment. The general idea is make OpenSim technology into a learning environment for students in countries such as South Africa and Uganda (among others). Teaching everything from farming techniques and household economics, to multiplication tables.

For our ongoing maths projects and our upcoming space inquiry we are using our open-sim 3D world - Pleasantville, to develop some skills and demonstrate our learning. This 3D environment is our own private learning space, which allows us to create and express in some amazing ways.