Problem Based Learning for Materials Science education in Metaverse

Abstract

A Problem Based Learning Class for Materials Science and engineering was planned in Metaverse (Second Life). Second life is a virtual three dimensional space where avatars do everything on behalf of the real participants to classes. the Authors have applied the virtual space to PBL and discussions in various ways so far. Now we established the class environments, the system for virtual discussion among students with different langauges through a translational system called Language Grid System. However, the most meaningful application should be the one where the three dimensional characterstics would be available for the classes. In this paper, we applied Second life to three dimensional topics in Materials Science and Engineering discipline. Students from Germany, Malaysia and Japanese who were studying in Japan participated to the PBL project, learning and discussed about the crystallography and electron configuration for some elements.