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AACE PRESENTATION


I created these slides for the 2018 Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Computing In Education (AACE) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for a talk titled, "The ChemSim-VR Prototype". Screen captures from the actual software illustrate the presentation. I designed and developed "ChemSim‑VR" at James Madison University, where faculty provided subject-matter expertise and students supplied end user feedback. See also the paper, "A Virtual Reality Teaching and Learning Environment for Chemistry" in the AACE conference proceedings.

ChemSim-VR Prototype is a virtual reality teaching and learning environment by T.M.Wilcox. As proof of concept, it demonstrates chemistry basics in an awe-inspiring, navigable 3D world.

Without a headset ChemSim-VR behaves like a typical computer game experience. It works with tablets, feature phones, and low-cost wireless headsets.

ChemSim-VR has an intuitive user interface with unique VR navigation controls. Employing a balloon flight mental model, players move about with an XBox controller.

ChemSim-VR inspires revelatory insights difficult or impossible to convey in other mediums. Ball-and-stick models scaled to monumental proportions evoke a fantastic parkland.

The prototype learning module demonstrates two concepts: Cubic and Hexagonal Close Packing. Students and teachers observe and control animated simulations of close packed spheres.

ChemSim-VR design accommodates multiple discreet learning modules. Learning modules demonstrate essential chemistry concepts well suited to virtual reality.

Long-term objectives for ChemSim-VR include a multi-user environment for group instruction. Brick-and-mortar chemistry lecture halls are re-imagined as virtual reality learning labs.

Not seen in this presentation is an animated character: the Chemistry Professor Avatar. The avatar is an AI-driven, conversational assistant for student drill and practice.

ChemSim-VR explores what distance learning can be in virtual reality. It tests and validates user navigation controls learning module design, and VR reference hardware.

T.M.Wilcox uses Unity as a primary development environment and the C# programming language. Additional tools include Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Fusion 360, Adobe Photoshop, and ProTools.

Target platforms are Oculus Rift and HTC Vive fixed and wireless head mounted displays. Distribution candidates are configured for Oculus and Steam App Stores.

ChemSim-VR is suitable for realtime instruction streaming on Twitch and YouTube Live. Unity's animation tools and VR180 output support omnidirectional, stereoscopic video.

Cognitive Psychology and learning theory inform ChemSim-VR design decisions. Jerome Bruner's ideas about modes of representation are particularly useful.

It appears chemistry students with low spatial reasoning ability benefit from ChemSim-VR. It is probable all learners benefit from VR representations of complex 3D concept models.

Research is necessary to identify why this type of instruction works and how to improve it. Toward that end, ChemSim-VR records user input and headset orientation 30 times per second.

Researchers can also change the position and rotation of any ChemSim-VR 3D object in realtime. Copilot navigation and presentation controls allow for mediated VR experiences.

VR technological hurdles like latency, optical resolution, and refresh rates are disappearing. Virtual reality is now poised for rapid evolutionary refinement creating opportunities for educators.

ChemSim-VR Prototype development at James Madison University ended June 30, 2017. Special thanks to faculty and students in JMUís Department of Chemistry for their input, feedback, and support.

28 years ago T.M.Wilcox developed the reference prototype of a computer game with a disruptive innovation called 24 bit color. Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego, Deluxe Edition Published by Broderbund Software, Inc., 1991

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