Quest Atlantis
From FAS Virtual Worlds Almanac
| Quest Atlantis
| |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Indiana University |
| URL | http://QuestAtlantis.Org |
| Engine | Active Worlds and Self-Created Scripting Engine |
| Status | Active |
| Setting | Schools and After Schools |
| Platform | PC, Mac |
| Web Platform | Activeworldswarning.png"Activeworlds" is not in the list of possible values (Second Life, ActiveWorlds, OSGrid) for this property. |
| Type | MMORPG |
| Minimum Subscription Cost | Free Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Year released | 2002 |
| Avatar-based | Yes |
| Multiuser | Yes |
| Interactive | Yes |
| Immediate | Yes |
| Persistent | Yes |
| Use and Demographics | |
|---|---|
| Primary use(s) | Education, Gaming |
| Type | MMORPG |
| Registered users | 20,000 |
| Active users | 10,000 |
| Average users online | 2000 per day |
| Target Audience(s) | Girls, Boys, Children |
| Language(s) | English |
| Theme |
|---|
| Level : Elementary, Junior High School |
| logic |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| User-generated content | Yes |
| Land ownership | Yes |
| In-game currency | Yes |
| Graphical and Content Features |
|---|
| Communication
|
|---|
| Management and Privacy |
|---|
Quest Atlantis (QA) is an international learning and teaching project that uses a 3D multi-user environment to immerse children, ages 9-15, in educational tasks. 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.
Quest Atlantis received its initial funding from the National Science Foundation. The research and support for the project comes from Indiana University's Center for Research on Learning and Technology. Started in 2001, the project has grown to over 4500 users in various locations around the globe. 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.
Contents |
Results
Over the last four years, more than 10,000 children on five continents have participated in the project, demonstrating learning gains in science, language arts, and social studies, and students have completed literally 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. Rather than just placing work and play side-by-side, QA strives to make learning fun and to show kids how they can make a difference.
The concept of Quest
At the core of student activity with Quest Atlantis is the completion of Quests. A Quest is an engaging curricular task designed to be educational and entertaining. In completing Quests, students are required to participate in simulated and real world activities that are socially and academically meaningful, such as environmental studies, researching other cultures, interviewing community members, and developing action plans. The purpose of these activities is that cildren not only learn to use technology, but also develop standards-based academic and communication skills as well.
All of the academic activities are embedded in a secure online gaming context where children explore our 3D virtual environment, “chat” online with other students and teachers using QA, and take part in the story of Atlantis – a complex civilization on a faraway planet that is similar to our own and in need of help.
Quest Atlantis offers weblogs (or “blogs”) written by Atlantians, novels, comic books, cards, and a host of social opportunities.
A professional development course is mandatory for all new Quest Atlantis teachers. While there has been very high demand by interested teachers and schools, the technology is complex and requires committed teachers.
Screenshots
 | |
References
External Links
In the News
Scholarly Research
- Barab, S. A., Zuiker, S., Warren, S., Hickey, D., Ingram-Goble, A., Kwon, E-J., Kouper, I., & Herring, S. C., Situationally Embodied Curriculum: Relating Formalisms and Contexts, Science Education, 91(5), 750-782,2007.
- Barab, S. A., Sadler, T., Heiselt, C., Hickey, D., Zuiker, S., Relating Narrative, Inquiry, and Inscriptions: A Framework for Socio-Scientific Inquiry, Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16(1), 59-82.,2007.
