Immersive Virtual Reality in the Lehigh River Watershed

Mountaintop Summer Experience 2020

Other Affiliated Programs: Lehigh Valley Social Impact Fellowship

Students on Summer Project Team:
Robson Junior 'G, Instructional Technology
Beigie Lam '23, IDEAS
Jennifer Nester 'G, Instructional Technology
Michaela Ott '21, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Faculty Mentor(s): Alec Bodzin, Professor, Instructional Technology program, College of Education; Tom Hammond, Associate Professor, Instructional Technology and Teacher Education programs, College of Education; David Anastasio, Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Project Video: Click here to view

Project description:
This project is designing, developing, testing, and implementing an immersive virtual reality (iVR) project for STEM education to promote engagement and learning about spatial watershed features and environmental issues in the Lehigh River watershed. This project seeks to advance a novel approach using iVR learning with place-based learning and game design principles to broaden access to STEM learning experiences for adolescents and adults with a collaboration of informal STEM centers in the Lehigh Valley. Team members have learned Unity programming skills and are developing immersive games for learning.