Visualization, Simulation, and Visualization, Simulation, and Gaming as Effective Gaming as Effective Educational ToolsEducational Tools

Applied Visualization SymposiumApplied Visualization SymposiumAsheville, NCAsheville, NC

November 10November 10thth, 2006, 2006

David McConvilleDavid McConvilleid@elumenati.com

Director of Noospheric ResearchDirector of Noospheric ResearchThe Elumenati

Preferred StatePreferred State

A community that understands and utilizes the A community that understands and utilizes the interconnections and synergies between individuals, interconnections and synergies between individuals,

communities, and the planet to maximize wealth, communities, and the planet to maximize wealth, health, and innovation.health, and innovation.

Current Problem StateCurrent Problem State

Global warmingGlobal warming

Biosphere degradationBiosphere degradation

Mass extinctionsMass extinctions

Wars over resourcesWars over resources

Lack of access to basic needs Lack of access to basic needs (water, food, shelter)(water, food, shelter)

Destruction of cultures, cities, & Destruction of cultures, cities, & countries with criminally negligent countries with criminally negligent governmental responsegovernmental response

Rise of fundamentalism and lack of Rise of fundamentalism and lack of cultural understanding, empathy, cultural understanding, empathy, and compassionand compassion

The Problem: DisconnectionThe Problem: Disconnection

There is a disconnect between our values There is a disconnect between our values

and our behavior.and our behavior.

The Problem: DisengagementThe Problem: Disengagement

40% to 60% of students from all economic backgrounds are chronically disengaged 40% to 60% of students from all economic backgrounds are chronically disengaged from learning.from learning.

47% of dropouts left school because classes weren't interesting.47% of dropouts left school because classes weren't interesting.

The Problem: DenialThe Problem: Denial

Current Educational ModelCurrent Educational Model

Solution: AwarenessSolution: Awareness

There is no energy shortage. There is no energy shortage.

There is no energy crisis. There is no energy crisis.

There is a crisis of ignorance. There is a crisis of ignorance.

R. Buckminster FullerR. Buckminster Fuller

Solution: InspirationSolution: Inspiration

Inspiration and genius Inspiration and genius are one in the same.are one in the same.

Victor HugoVictor Hugo

Solution: CooperationSolution: Cooperation

The whole is greater The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.than the sum of its parts.

Aristotle, in MetaphysicsAristotle, in Metaphysics

Obtain a global perspective from Obtain a global perspective from experiential learningexperiential learning

AirOcean Dymaxion MapAirOcean Dymaxion Map

Obtain a global perspective from Obtain a global perspective from experiential learningexperiential learning

AirOcean Dymaxion MapAirOcean Dymaxion Map

Use innovative tools for more intuitive Use innovative tools for more intuitive learninglearning

Make better decisions by Make better decisions by understanding interconnected systemsunderstanding interconnected systems

2004 Biltmore Flood Visualization2004 Biltmore Flood Visualization

Make better decisions by Make better decisions by understanding interconnected systemsunderstanding interconnected systems

2004 Biltmore Flood Visualization2004 Biltmore Flood Visualization

Components of Engaging Components of Engaging Educational Vis/Sim & GamingEducational Vis/Sim & Gaming

Accurate data incorporationAccurate data incorporation

Graphical interface designGraphical interface design

Temporal/spatial Temporal/spatial simulation/visualizationsimulation/visualization

Game engine designGame engine design

Gameplay designGameplay design

Narrative (interactive & linear)Narrative (interactive & linear)

Audio/Video production designAudio/Video production design

Appropriate input devicesAppropriate input devices

ImmersionImmersion

Serious Games: Learn By DoingSerious Games: Learn By Doing

Drill deep in subject matterDrill deep in subject matter

Self-directed learningSelf-directed learning

Explore choice and consequenceExplore choice and consequence

Play with complex variablesPlay with complex variables

Simulate real-world processesSimulate real-world processes

Create peer-to-peer teaching opportunitiesCreate peer-to-peer teaching opportunities

Create immersive and highly motivated learning environmentCreate immersive and highly motivated learning environment

Dr. Henry Jenkins, Director, Comparative Media Studies, MITDr. Henry Jenkins, Director, Comparative Media Studies, MIThttp://http://cms.mit.educms.mit.edu//

Benefits of Virtual EnvironmentsBenefits of Virtual Environments

Assist in learning complex spatial conceptsAssist in learning complex spatial concepts

Increase student engagementIncrease student engagement

Ability to view 3D models from multiple spatial & temporal Ability to view 3D models from multiple spatial & temporal perspectivesperspectives

Increased motivation from interactions in a well-designed environmentIncreased motivation from interactions in a well-designed environment

Ka Chun Yu’s “Digital Full-Domes: The Future of Virtual Astronomy Education”, Planetarian magazine, Sept. 2005

Benefits of ImmersionBenefits of Immersion

““Perceptualizing” complex datasets in immersive environments can Perceptualizing” complex datasets in immersive environments can be more effective than the same visualization in non-immersive virtual be more effective than the same visualization in non-immersive virtual environmentsenvironments

Virtual environments offer better task performanceVirtual environments offer better task performance

Virtual environments provide higher satisfaction levels for usersVirtual environments provide higher satisfaction levels for users

Raja, D., Bowman, D.A., Lucas, J., & North, C. 2004, “Exploring the Benefits of Immersion in Abstract Information Visualization,” Proceedings of the Immersive Projection Technology Workshop

Benefits of Large-Scale DisplaysBenefits of Large-Scale Displays

Increased sense of “presence” (called Increased sense of “presence” (called “telepresence” by Marvin Minsky)“telepresence” by Marvin Minsky)

A sense of “being there”A sense of “being there”

Users respond psychologically to a Users respond psychologically to a mediated environments as if it were local, mediated environments as if it were local, not remotenot remote

Increased attentionIncreased attention

Increased persuasiveness of the messageIncreased persuasiveness of the message

Improvements in memory and retentionImprovements in memory and retention

Enhancements in tasks performance and Enhancements in tasks performance and navigationnavigation

An increase in presence can potentially An increase in presence can potentially increase the effectiveness of teaching any increase the effectiveness of teaching any materialmaterial

Ka Chun Yu’s “Digital Full-Domes: The Future of Virtual Astronomy Education”, Planetarian magazine, Sept. 2005

Trends & Tipping PointsTrends & Tipping Points

International networking, dialogue, collaboration & resource International networking, dialogue, collaboration & resource development development

Massive multiplayer online gaming, open source applications, WikipediaMassive multiplayer online gaming, open source applications, Wikipedia

Availability of Data at Every ScaleAvailability of Data at Every ScaleMolecularMolecularGeospatialGeospatialAstronomicalAstronomicalSocial (Social (http://http://www.gapminder.orgwww.gapminder.org))

Increasingly available and effective virtual environment Increasingly available and effective virtual environment technologiestechnologies

Video gaming enginesVideo gaming enginesGPUsGPUsDisplaysDisplays

Games for Learning (“Serious” Gaming)Games for Learning (“Serious” Gaming)http://www.seriousgames.orghttp://www.seriousgames.org

Visualization for Education & OutreachVisualization for Education & OutreachAstronomyAstronomyArchaeology/World HeritageArchaeology/World HeritageArchitectureArchitectureAtmospheric ScienceAtmospheric ScienceBiology/BiotechnologyBiology/BiotechnologyChemistryChemistryComputation Fluid DynamicsComputation Fluid DynamicsEarth SciencesEarth SciencesEngineeringEngineeringGeographical Information SystemsGeographical Information SystemsMathematicsMathematicsMarine BiologyMarine BiologyMaterial Science/NanotechnologyMaterial Science/NanotechnologyMunicipal PlanningMunicipal PlanningPhysicsPhysicsRapid PrototypingRapid PrototypingUrban Visualization/SimulationUrban Visualization/SimulationAny dataset (!)Any dataset (!)

Galaxies Forming on Filamentary SturcturesDonna Cox, NCSA/SDSC

Visualization of an F3 TornadoWithin a Supercell Simulation

Donna Cox, NCSA

Educational OutcomesEducational Outcomes

Develop understanding of Develop understanding of systems thinking and cause/effect systems thinking and cause/effect to better predict outcomes of our to better predict outcomes of our decisions & actionsdecisions & actions

Provide informal and self-directed Provide informal and self-directed educational systems for both educational systems for both linear and visual/spatial learnerslinear and visual/spatial learners

Develop understanding of and Develop understanding of and connections between numerous connections between numerous disciplines to move beyond disciplines to move beyond extreme specialization to more extreme specialization to more comprehensive, anticipatory comprehensive, anticipatory perspectivesperspectives