VR biology, an interdisciplinary and international student project towards an inquiry-based pedagogy

Abstract

Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is moving towards a more inquiry-based, and creativity stimulating pedagogy. Part of a curriculum based on such pedagogies should be challenging learning activities that engage students in investigation. At the same time, it is imperative that such activities are developed and validated in collaboration with the teachers who should incorporate them in their lesson planning. In this contribution we propose to develop innovative lessons in which such learning activities are embedded via the professional development method of Lesson Study with teachers Biology in (initial) teacher training in the Netherlands in close collaboration with students Mechanical Engineering in Singapore. Within this project both student groups will be using a model-based and VR-enabled solution created through an interdisciplinary and international collaboration between the Netherlands and Singapore.