Serious Games and Learning

Literacy: Chalk House

Chalk House, a 3D virtual environment aimed at middle school literacy issues, began development 2006. It uses the CRG 3D virtual environment framework to delivera narrative driven story aimed at at-risk students. It is focused primarily on improving student literacy skills, namely reading and writing, which are the key focuses of learning in the space. Over 300 students used the software over a three year research period from 2009 to 2011. As was expected, increased student time on task (i.e. playing the game) improved their reading skills with regards to reading, comprehension, and synthesizing. Analysis of in-game assessment and activity showed that students who participated in five or more interactive sessions were able to complete the majority of online assessments given in the game as gatekeeper activities. Read more...

Virtual Learning: Museums

Dr. Adriana D'Alba, recent graduate from the University of North Texas in Learning Technologies, used the CRG framework for a pilot study and then dissertation research in Mexico measuring knowledge acquisition between a 3D Online and Real-World Art Museum Tour. CRG worked with Dr. D'Alba to support her dissertation research. The realistic environment duplicated the exhibit and was implemented in the CRG framework in 60 days. The virtual space was conceived not only for visitors to know about that particular exhibition and visualize the paintings, but to have a sense of the spatial distribution of the paintings throughout the room. The study showed that using a virtual museum had the same knowledge acquisition as the actual visit when used independently, but more importantly the research showed that for test groups that pre-visualized the museum in the virtual environment had increased knowledge acquisition (36% greater) after the visit to the museum. In addition, the interaction and discourse with the tour materials and guide was greatly increased for the virtual and tour groups. Read more...

STEM: Mars Online

The Mars on-line project operated between January 2003 and July 2008 and was a test platform for the CRG framework while it was in development. The project takes data made available from NASA generated by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), an instrument aboard NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). Mars Global Surveyor began orbiting the red planet on September 12, 1997. The MOLA data being used by the CRG Mars On-line project provides some 1 billion elevation measurements gathered between 1998 and 2001 by NASA. The CRG portal-based system would update the client space in real time as users navigated around the planet mars. Additional tools were added to the client in 2007 to support STEM activities for students working on the surface of the planet. Basic math concept and investigations were supported. Research was conducted and showed that the use of the virtual space did help student understanding of the measured outcomes. Read more...

CRG Framework

CRG was founded with the purpose of creating a 3D online learning environment that would make it eaiser to create and support virtual environment in education and learning. The outcome of that initial mission was the creation of the CRG framework that is used in the serious games and learning projects above. An immersive environment promotes interactions and engages both the instructor and student in a way that audio/video conferencing or delayed communications through e-mail and conferences have trouble attaining. By creating the reality and integrating the tools into a single design, the user can focus on one interface instead of having to interact with several. Read more...