Towards Teaching Secondary School Physics in an Immersive 3D Game Environment

Abstract

Laboratory exercises are an important part of secondary
school physics classes that make an important contribution to
student learning. Virtual laboratories have the advantage of
allowing experiments that might be too dangerous or too costly in
the real world. We present Gary’s Lab, an experimental immersive
3D laboratory environment using computer game technology.
Our system allows students considerable freedom in constructing
apparatus, and running qualitative and quantitative experiments
using that apparatus. We argue that the process of constructing
experiments in interesting contexts might be expected to help
students engage with their lessons, focusing their attention on the
apparatus and the methods of measurement used.