A virtual tornadic thunderstorm to enable student-centered learning about complex storm-scale atmospheric dynamics

大气科学（41）一个具有数据探测能力的视觉逼真的虚拟龙卷风超级单体雷暴正在开发中，为从K-12到研究生的学生提供了像科学家一样以建构主义的方式学习的机会。虚拟风暴是一个概念验证，用于以后创建其他虚拟地球科学系统。虚拟风暴解决了NSF的目标，即为所有学生提供获得优秀本科科学教育的机会，并基于对探究方法和过程的直接经验进行学习。这项研究是建立在一个简单的虚拟风暴原型的基础上的，这个原型已经由爱荷华州立大学的内部资金开发出来。虽然原型风暴缺乏数据探测功能，是在一个完全沉浸式的虚拟洞穴中开发的，但一个版本已经传播到基于linux的个人电脑上，提高了学生的访问能力。我们正在创建一个基于windows的版本，以便更广泛地传播。超级单体雷暴内部的许多小尺度细节反映了发生的大范围重要大气过程，使风暴成为一个特别有用的模型，可以作为概念验证。一项关于虚拟风暴对科学教育影响的评估是通过比较学生在一年级（没有接触虚拟风暴）的大型讲座入门课程中对该主题问题的回答与二年级学生在探索虚拟风暴时的回答来进行的。该项目的成功完成应该表明，以前在课堂实验室中禁止学生体验的令人兴奋的实验室式体验可以通过虚拟现实模拟带给世界各地的学生。

Atmospheric Sciences (41)A visually-realistic virtual tornadic supercell thunderstorm is being developed with data probe capabilities, providing students from K-12 through graduate with opportunities to learn as scientists learn in a constructivist manner. The virtual storm is a proof-of-concept for later creation of other virtual geoscience systems. The virtual storm addresses the NSF goal of providing all students access to excellent undergraduate science education, with learning based upon direct experience with methods and processes of inquiry. This research is being built upon a simple prototype of the virtual storm, already developed with internal funds at Iowa State University. Although the prototype storm, lacking data probe capabilities, was developed in a fully-immersive virtual CAVE, a version has been disseminated to linux-based PCs, improving student access. We are creating a Windows-based version for wider dissemination. The numerous small-scale details within a super cell thunderstorm that reflect the wide range of important atmospheric processes occurring make the storm an especially useful model to serve as a proof-of-concept. An assessment of the impact the virtual storm has on science education is being made by comparing student answers to questions on the topic in a large-lecture introductory course in year 1 (no exposure to the virtual storm) to those from year 2 when students are exploring the virtual storm. Successful completion of the project should demonstrate that exciting laboratory-type experiences of phenomena previously off limits to students within classroom laboratories can be brought to students everywhere by virtual reality simulations.