Archaeology ala VRML and VR and Remote Sensing
Still under construction (or perhaps reconstruction) Learning Sites has created virtual worlds by reconstructing major archaeological sites in 3Dimensions...
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Still under construction (or perhaps reconstruction) Learning Sites has created virtual worlds by reconstructing major archaeological sites in 3Dimensions. The discussion questions for students are very well-done and veer towards sound analyses of the remains of past civilizations. This approach adds a sprinkle of mystery to ancient civilizations. Virtual Archaelogy will remind viewers of the Raiders of the Lost Ark trilogy.
Odyssey takes you back to a dig in Egypt. You may encounter a hermit or a sandstorm or be invited to name the scholars' truck. Progress in the field is reported regularly and student input is solicited. VR movies add more interactivity to the site. It does require 10 weeks of involvement (not full time like the diggers themselves). This site was a finalist for an National Information Infrastructure Award--very competitive and prestigious. You can almost smell the mustiness and dust.
At Intel click on Explore to reach the Stonehenge site. Since parts of the real world Stonehenge are roped off to the public to prevent deterioration, this VR tour was constructed. It takes advantage of newer technologies by varying the scene to reflect different conditions of lighting and fog. Both of these features may have influenced the influence of Stonehenge itself! Similarly, 3D models of early Anasazi communities have been re-constructed to help students understand the development of this civilization who left few clues about their origin.
Becoming Human--the title of this site pretty much tells the story! New technologies have given rise to hybrid studies, in this case, paleoanthropology.
Mysteries of Catalhoyuk, developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota, immerses students in an archaelogical expedition to learn the methods and share observations with others in a chat room.
Annotation
LearningSites is one of the first educational sites capitalizing on the 3D technology. Truly a "constructivist" project and easily replicated in classrooms.
