SEEE study web site: http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~mariah/phd/seee.html <http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/%7Emariah/phd/seee.html> Educational Technology Research Study Using Virtual Reality! CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Group Three August and September, 2007 Does your child enjoy learning about nature, using computers and making art? Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are putting together a series of real and virtual reality field trips for elementary aged children to engage and inspire independent exploration, inquiry, scientific learning, and artistic experiences. All volunteers will participate in a research study of the usability of the computer simulation software of Trillium Trail. The purpose of this study is to: 1. Describe the difference between real and virtual situational learning, and 2. Evaluate HCI performance in the simulation in terms of high to low navigation and visual fidelity. The software is like a computer game, but designed for learning. All children will have a chance to design and build their very own virtual world ecologies. In addition to exploring and learning about our local ecology, all children will be helping us to design new fun, child-driven, knowledge-based technologies. Who? Any elementary age child in the third, fourth and fifth grades are being asked to participate in this study. We will give priority to fourth grade and fill openings on an as needed-basis. We have 16 - 20 openings for the smaller studies of Group One and Group Two, and 64 openings for Group Three, a larger study on the software. Parents are invited to be present at all times. What? All groups will meet in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh for a pretest, a virtual field trip, posttest, and a follow-up session as an opportunity to create a virtual world. Groups One and Two will require an additional real field trip to Trillium Trail, located on Squaw Run Road in Fox Chapel, guided by the Audubon Society of Western PA Educator - Gabi Hughes! When? Field trips and research studies will be conducted between May and December, 2007. Group assignment will occur after you volunteer. Who are we? This project is a PhD dissertation study "Simulated Ecological Environments for Education" of Maria C.R. Harrington, a PhD Candidate in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Disclaimer: This is not an O'Hara school project or a FCASD project. To sign up or ask questions: please contact Maria C.R. Harrington, at (412) 606-2170 or send an email mharring@pitt.edu.http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~mariah/phd/seee.html Maria C.R. Harrington School of Information Sciences University of Pittsburgh 135 North Bellefield Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA Email: Cell 412 606-2170 Office Tel: 412.624.5230 Office Fax: 412.624.5231 Office: SIS 708