Let-Us-Learn is an international initiative that aims to investigate the potential of constructivist and Minimally Invasive Education (MIE) facilitated through a 3D virtual learning environment (3DVLE) designed to engage learners in collaborative, creative problem solving activities in which numeracy, literacy, life skills and creative activities are embedded in a motivating game-like environment.
InGienous Designs is the local project coordinator for the international multidisciplinary team of dedicated researchers and collaborative partners who make up Let-Us-Learn and who recognize the critical role that education plays in the future health of many developing societies. The project had it’s beginnings when InGienous Designs invited Dr. Denise Woods of the University of South Australia to adapt her applications in 3DVLE from university environment to a primary education context in South Africa.
Dr. Woods is a gifted and experienced research in multiple disciplines including 3DVLE for education, Accessibility and Disability technology research and media. She is the head researcher of this groundbreaking project that seeks to perform a longitudal study of 3D Virtual Learning Environments beginning with Grade 4 level students in South Africa and other parts of Africa. Dr. Woods assembled a top multi-disciplinary team consisting of researchers in health sciences, entrepreneurship, online education, agricultural economics, computer programming and organic agriculture.
InGienous Designs role in the project is local project management and logistics coordination in Africa, business planning, fundraising and investment and coordination with a variety of research institutes and private and governmental stakeholders. The team has been in Africa twice for scoping studies and is now preparing to launch the baseline test and trials.
We seek to perform a 3 year longitudal study that will track Grade 4 students as they use an Open Source 3DVLE environment to compliment their classroom curriculum work. We work closely with educators to port curriculum material created collaboratively over to the 3DVLE so that the 3DVLE can compliment students classroom material. This project is the first of its kind to perform an in-depth research study that promies to co-create, share and promote the most effective and holistic applications of 3DVLE technology to develop 21st century educational methods that will accelerate the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA).
In particular, Let-Us-Learn focuses its research to adapt its MIE models to the many educational challenges faced by schools the world over, whether located in rural or urban areas, in developing or developed countries, working with appropriate government, private and not-for-profit partners.
Our projects are currently located in developing countries such as South Africa and Uganda, but our vision is to apply this technology to other developing countries. As technology grows more powerful and costs continue to drop, Let-Us-Learn see’s enormous potential for 3DVLEs to play a significant role in the delivery of effective models for facilitating teaching and learning, especially in developing countries where both human and physical resources are scarce.
In South Africa, our educational partners are:
- Gauteng Department of Education
- Limpopo Department of Education
Who we are looking for the following partners:
- Gap Funding Sources
- Open Source 3DVLE programmers to contribute construction of the domain
- Long Term Funding Sources
- Education Depts interested in becoming part of the pilot
- Technology corporate sponsors and NGO’s who are sponsoring Computer lab construction for collaborate
- Educational technology funding bodies