VWBPE 2018 Science Fair

Introduction: The VWBPE Science Fair

Deadline: July 16, 2017

Are you a teacher? Do you want to showcase your student’s work in virtual environments? Would you like to be a part of VWBPE’s 2018 conference by being among the few that inaugurate a new element into our program?

Welcome to the VWBPE’s first annual Science Fair! We are calling for educators from all disciplines and levels to participate in the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Science Fair. If you are interested in including an immersive project as part of your curriculum this coming fall, consider expressing an interest in showcasing it with us.

“A science fair project is a unique way for students to pose questions for which they must seek out answers and to satisfy their own curiosity about the world around them. A science fair project is an experiment, a demonstration, a research effort, a collection of scientific items, or display of scientific apparatus presented for viewing. It represents the efforts of a student’s investigation into some area of interest and provides a way for the student to share the results of those investigations.“ – *Source: https://www.eduplace.com/science/profdev/science_fair/whatis.html

In this instance, science encompasses a body of knowledge, whose systems, concepts, or major paradigms can then be demonstrated, experimented, and/or designed through the lense of any number of social, behavioral, and natural sciences as disciplines. These may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Science
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Geology
  • Social Sciences
    • Education
    • History
    • Anthropology
    • Economics
  • Behavioral Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Sociology
  • Fine Arts
    • Languages
    • Art
    • Music
    • Theatre

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but is intended to provide examples of the variety of disciplines that can submit to the Science Fair.

Requirements for Expression of Interest Submissions

Please read the requirements for the type of proposal you wish to submit.

Whole Class Projects (Grades 9-12)

These immersive projects will be created and built in an OpenSimulator closed environment during the building phase, to protect underage children. Teachers interested in engaging their entire class in a “science” project, should submit the following information for consideration:

  • Grade level (ages 14+ and/or Grade 9)*
  • Discipline
  • Learning objectives/outcomes
  • Project Description
  • Why use virtual world to build the project (immersion, simulation, re-enactment, etc.)
  • Number of students should not exceed 30

*Please note that for underage classes, teachers must bear the responsibility to ask for parental permission for all participating children.

If selected, you will also be required to share ongoing updates through any number of social media sites, which may include images, brief machinima, etc.

For final acceptance into the conference, all Science Fair Projects will also need to verify content accuracy through source citations and other means. Building during class may be done in your own private lands, or VWBPE will supply space for the projects in AvaCon Grid, in regions set up as closed. For this option, we will only have a limited supply of space, so apply quickly!

Submit Your Proposal!

Whole Class Projects (University, Continuing Education)

These immersive projects will be created and built in Second Life. Teachers interested in engaging their entire class in a “science” project, should submit the following information for consideration:

  • Level (Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctoral, Professional Development/Continuing Education)
  • Discipline
  • Learning objectives/outcomes
  • Project Description
  • Why use virtual world to build the project (immersion, simulation, re-enactment, etc.)
  • Number of students should not exceed 30

If selected, you will also be required to share ongoing updates through any number of social media sites, which may include images, brief machinima, etc. Please adhere to G rated dress in any images or video uploaded for these project updates.

For final acceptance into the conference, all Science Fair Projects will also need to verify content accuracy through source citations and other means. Building during class must be done in own SL lands. VWBPE will display them on conference regions upon opening of the sims, approximately 4-6 weeks before conference time.

Submit Your Proposal!