A 3D Immersive Virtual Environment for Secondary Biology Education

The Virtual Cell is an interactive, 3-dimensional visualization of a bio-environment designed to teach the structure and process of Cellular Biology. To the students, the Virtual Cell looks like an enormous navigable space populated with 3D organelles and other structures. They explore this space using a ‘fly through’ interface, conducting experiments and interpreting them, in order to complete a sequence of goals. These goals start with identifying organelles, then move on to more challenging pursuits, including scientific experimentation and question-based assignments that promote diagnostic reasoning and problem-solving in the authentic visualized context of a 3D cell body. A software agent ‘guide’ makes assignments, and software tutors assist when the students require remediation. The instruction is designed to comply with Next Generation Science Standards, and the game-like aspects are fun and engaging.