Harvard Videos on the inside scoop #1

The virtual performance assessment project



Kamagua bay is a virtual system that represents the marine eco system of alaska. Using the immersive virtual technology, this project allows students to study materials in a more affordable and efficient style; students can save data on a digital notebook,students can interact with a computer-based scientist. The goal of this projectis to teach students aboout the eco system using a 3D environment. For instance, the Kelp forest in this project is depleting, and it is a student's job to investigate and find out what the cause is. A good starting point would be to actually visit a healthy kelp forest and take notes on it. Students can wakl around thebay and can interact with others. Also, students are given tools to measure water, temperature, and even turbidity to help them collect data. Conveniently,each student's actions are stored in a database that could be used for grading. Truly, the virtual performace assessment project is superior to the classic way of teaching using pencil and paper. It gives much more visual experience, and a lot of options which gives the students to try out many different possibilities.