We present a free student-facing tool for creating 3D plots and smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) visualizations for STEM courses. Visualizations are created through an in-browser interface using simple plotting commands. Then QR codes are generated, which can be interpreted with a free smartphone app, requiring only an inexpensive Google…

This work provides an overview of the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the context of training through the documentation of a project produced by Ohio University's Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab involving the development of a cine-VR series for police officer training in areas such as suicide prevention, mental health,…

This chapter provides an overview on how the use of Virtual Reality apps and related activities enhanced student learning in conjunction with a low-tech, team-based, active learning assessment. Our approach for integrating emerging immersive technology in a Cell Biology class, a first of its kind at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, was…

Engineers often need to predict how a part, mechanism or machine will perform in service, and this insight is typically achieved thorough computer simulations. Therefore, instruction in the creation and application of simulation models is essential for aspiring engineers. The purpose of this project was to develop a unified approach to teaching…

Low-income students face a number of obstacles that go beyond the cost of tuition and fees. For instance, their schooling often requires expenses that aren't covered by financial aid, such as books and commuting costs. What's more, education is often competing for their time with other responsibilities, such as the need to work or take care of…

The advent of new technologies and increased access to robust connectivity is reshaping the K-12 landscape for teaching and learning. School districts nationwide are leveraging digital instructional materials and resources to deliver transformative and impactful personalized learning opportunities for students and to enhance the administrative…

The advent of new technologies and increased access to robust connectivity is reshaping the K-12 landscape for teaching and learning. School districts nationwide are leveraging digital instructional materials and resources to deliver transformative and impactful personalized learning opportunities for students and to enhance the administrative…

Interest in computer-based learning, especially in the use of virtual reality simulations is increasing rapidly. While there are good reasons to believe that technologies have the potential to improve teaching and learning, how to utilize the technology effectively in teaching specific content difficulties is challenging. To help students develop…

Signal detection theory forms the core of many current models of cognition, including memory, choice, and categorization. However, the classic signal detection model presumes the a priori existence of fixed stimulus representations--usually Gaussian distributions--even when the observer has no experience with the task. Furthermore, the classic…

Students in information technology (IT) need realistic, hands-on experience to master IT skills. When students have the opportunity to train with a hands-on curriculum and prepare to certify in the IT field, they become more deeply engaged in both their education and their career path. This article discusses LabSim, an IT certification training…

Through Project EXCEL (Excellence in Community Elected and Appointed Leadership), 63 participants (Ohio county commissioners) completed simulation exercises in 7 assessment centers. Participants received personalized feedback on 15 behavioral dimensions. (SK)

Colleges and universities head into virtual worlds, and student learning and psychology are changed forever. For the past few years, Creighton University, a Jesuit institution of about 6,700 students has hosted GameFest (www2.creighton.edu/doit/gamefest), a 12-hour marathon of high-tech, interactive gaming sessions among Creighton students, using…

In this article, the author discusses the importance of Homeland Security in community colleges as a counter terrorism solution. Homeland Security, a phrase born after September 11, 2001, has entered the nation's vocabulary and is now becoming part of the curriculum at hundreds of colleges and universities. No sector of higher education is…

This document describes a project in which elementary school students explored the problems experienced by early pioneers and compared them to similar problems that will face future space pioneers. Comparing a past way of life to the present and future helps students examine and understand change in the physical, social, and cultural environment,…

To develop a model for local school districts to use in vocational education planning and development in Ohio, this project utilized the following strategies: develop a set of planning documents and instructions consistent with the state plan format; develop simulation materials which provide the necessary information for instructing local…