Quest Atlantis
Encyclopedia
Quest Atlantis is a 3D multiuser, computer graphics learning environment that utilizes a narrative programming toolkit to immerse children, ages 9–15, in meaningful inquiry tasks (see QuestAtlantis.Org). Quest Atlantis combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning and motivation. The project is unique in its goals to combine the best aspects of learning, playing, and helping, as a means to motivate and engage students. QA combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning and motivation. It allows users to travel to virtual places to perform educational activities (known as Quests), talk with other users and mentors, and build virtual personae. The project is intended to engage children ages 9–16 in a form of transformational play comprising both online and off-line learning activities, with a storyline inspiring a disposition towards social action. More than sugar-coating content to coerce disempowered students into caring about disciplinary knowledge, the goal of Quest Atlantis is establish educational worlds where children become empowered scientists, doctors, reporters, and mathematicians who have to understand disciplinary content to accomplish desired ends.
Over the last five years, more than 65,000 children on five continents have participated in the project. Quest Atlantis has demonstrated learning gains in science, language arts, and social studies, and students have completed thousands of Quests, some of which were assigned by teachers and many of which were chosen by students to complete in their free time. Equally important have been reported personal experiences, with teachers and students reporting increased levels of engagement and interest in pursuing the curricular issues outside of school. Students and teachers conduct rich inquiry-based explorations through which they learn particular standards-based content, and at the same time develop pro-social attitudes regarding significant environmental and social issues (see Critical Design Article). Rather than just placing work and play side-by-side, QA strives to make learning fun and to show children how they can make a difference.
The principal investigator is Sasha Barab, Associate Professor in Learning Sciences
at Indiana University, and is the Barbara Jacobs Chair of Education and Technology. Other IU faculty members that play prominent roles on the project include Dan Hickey and Melissa Gresalfi. There are users of QA from all over the world.
Over the last five years, more than 65,000 children on five continents have participated in the project. Quest Atlantis has demonstrated learning gains in science, language arts, and social studies, and students have completed thousands of Quests, some of which were assigned by teachers and many of which were chosen by students to complete in their free time. Equally important have been reported personal experiences, with teachers and students reporting increased levels of engagement and interest in pursuing the curricular issues outside of school. Students and teachers conduct rich inquiry-based explorations through which they learn particular standards-based content, and at the same time develop pro-social attitudes regarding significant environmental and social issues (see Critical Design Article). Rather than just placing work and play side-by-side, QA strives to make learning fun and to show children how they can make a difference.
The principal investigator is Sasha Barab, Associate Professor in Learning Sciences
Learning sciences
The term Learning Sciences refers to an interdisciplinary field that works to further scientific understanding of learning as well as to engage in the design and implementation of learning innovations, and improvement of instructional methodologies...
at Indiana University, and is the Barbara Jacobs Chair of Education and Technology. Other IU faculty members that play prominent roles on the project include Dan Hickey and Melissa Gresalfi. There are users of QA from all over the world.