POLAR EXPLORER - AN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THAWING PERMAFROST

Climate warming is transforming the Arctic, and this transformation has profound impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, global climate, & public health. Teaching students about the consequences of thawing permafrost is difficult because complex changes are occurring across different spatial and temporal scales and the Arctic is remote & inaccessible. A new, digital learning environment called Polar Explorer will increase student conceptual knowledge of permafrost, its dynamics, and the consequences of permafrost degradation. Polar Explorer will consist of a suite of Learning Experiences (LXs) built around interactive Virtual Field Trips (iVFTs), connected via a high-resolution rendered landscape generated from real Arctic terrain data. Student learning outcomes are designed to meet three goals in introductory undergraduate STEM courses: (1) increase polar science disciplinary knowledge; (2) differentiate multiple scales of physical measurements and time; and (3) improve comprehension of transdisciplinary connections in polar science. Eight place-based LXs will teach students about permafrost dynamics, impacts of permafrost thaw on infrastructure, climate, and human health, and indigenous perspectives on the changing Arctic. Students will have autonomy in choosing their learning path through the LXs, which will leverage virtual reality technology, an engaging narrative, interviews with a diverse group of real scientists, and real-world data and places to provide context to student learning. An intelligent tutoring system that runs on HTML5 will individualize the student experience and help address conceptual gaps in knowledge. Polar Explorer’s iVFTs will effectively promote active, inquiry-based learning and resolve the substantial accessibility challenges inherent to polar science. Polar Explorer will increase accessibility of polar science research to a diverse population of students regardless of physical ability, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity.