Interactive Visualization for Learning

There is an increasing convergence of physical, biological and chemical sciences at the submicroscopic scale, interlaced with swift technological advancement. For example, rapid nanotechnological development is providing novel and realistic opportunities for medical treatment and materials for construction. Such progress places urgent pressure on educational role-players to provide meaningful tools for understanding submicroscopic structures and processes, in preparation of future scientists and informed citizens. On this note, recent educational research indicates that interactive multimodal environments offer new sensory pathways that can support learning about abstract and challenging science concepts. In testing this hypothesis, we will describe the conceptualisation and development of a selection of interactive virtual environments for communicating the nanoworld, as well as provide examples of investigations on their influence on learning. In conclusion, apart from the submicroscopic, we will also show how interactive visualization can be applied in the communication and learning of otherwise unobservable macroscopic processes.

Programme

11.30 - 12.00 We offer a light lunch

12.00 - 13.00 Presentation and time for questions and discussion

This event will be held in English.

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Konrad Schönborn has a Ph.D. in biochemistry education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is a senior lecturer in visual learning and communication at Linköping University, and coordinator of the Swedish national graduate school in science, mathematics, and technology education (FontD). His research explores how learners’ interact with multiple external representations in the visualization and construction of conceptual understanding about molecular, (bio)chemical and physical phenomena. One of his current foci is on investigating the learning, teaching and communication of nanoscience and nanotechnology in public and classroom contexts.

Karljohan Lundin Palmerius is a senior lecturer in immersive visualization at Linköping University. He conducts research and teaches in computer science and virtual reality technologies. He received his Ph.D. in 2007 from Linköping University specialising in scientific visualization with multimodal interfaces. His main interest and most significant part of his publications to date relate to haptic interfaces. He is the coordinator and main developer of an open source package for multimodal scientific visualization, and another for building virtual reality applications. An aspect of his recent work has included constructing virtual reality architectures for the exposure, learning and teaching of core nano-related concepts.

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