Dive In! Exploring Ocean Conservation Through the Use of Immersive Technologies

Description

This presentation provided an overview of an innovative STEM research project undertaken with 5 primary schools in County Galway which aimed to raise awareness about ocean conservation through the use of immersive technologies, focusing in particular on virtual reality (VR). Within the context of the project, pupils and teachers were supported in researching real-life issues, such as plastics pollution in our seas and overfishing, developing creative solutions to such challenges and communicating about them within pupil-created VR digital stories, using CoSpaces software. Emerging findings from the project were outlined during the presentation, based on the pupil and teacher perspectives gathered to date. Discussion also included how pupils’ and teachers’ understanding in the area of STEM learning and ocean conservation developed as a result of participating in the project, how the use of digital technology influenced the teaching and learning experience in the classroom and the perceived effectiveness of the 5-step integrated STEM learning approach employed (mirroring that outlined in the NCCA’s draft ‘Science, Technology and Engineering Education specification’).

Period	1 Mar 2025
Event title	Computers in Education Society of Ireland Conference 2025: Navigating Digital Futures 2.0
Event type	Conference
Location	Limerick, IrelandShow on map