Abstract
This chapter reports on the design and trial of a virtual reality transformational game aimed at promoting the study of nanotechnology among secondary science students. Nanocity is a prototype game purposefully designed to create an engaging and immersive learning environment. The game was tested with 87 lower secondary students in two Western Australian schools. After the experience, these students were surveyed and some participated in focus group interviews. These data, along with observation of the students using the game, provided evidence that the experience was not only engaging but had a transformational effect on the attitudes and perceptions of students towards nanotechnology as a field of study and work. These results supported the suggestion that transformational games can be used to support the learning of students in science and in particular improve their attitudes and perceptions of future engagement with science.
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The NanoCity research and development project was supported with funding from the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
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Appendix 15.1: Questionnaire Likert Scale
Appendix 15.1: Questionnaire Likert Scale
My Opinions about Nanotechnology:
Please circle one number to show your opinion on each item in the table below.
Item | Strongly disagree 1 | Disagree 2 | Unsure 3 | Agree 4 | Strongly agree 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Nanotechnology is important for society | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. Nanotechnology will help cure diseases, e.g. cancer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. Thanks to nanotechnology there will be greater opportunities for future generations | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Nanotechnology makes our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. Nanotechnologies will make work more interesting | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. The benefits of nanotechnology are greater than the harmful effects it could have | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7. Nanotechnology will help eradicate poverty and famine in the world | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. Nanotechnology is the cause of some environmental problems | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
9. A country needs nanotechnology to become developed | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10. Nanotechnology benefits mainly the developed countries | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
11. Scientists follow the scientific method which leads them to correct answers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
12. We should trust what scientists say | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
13. Scientists are neutral and objective | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
14. Scientific theories develop and change all the time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Murcia, K.J., Paul Newhouse, C., Boston, J. (2018). NanoCity: An Immersive Game to Transform Student Perceptions of Science. In: Sampson, D., Ifenthaler, D., Spector, J., Isaías, P. (eds) Digital Technologies: Sustainable Innovations for Improving Teaching and Learning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73417-0_15
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