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Put On Your 3D Glasses — Class Is About To Start

Posted by timothy on from the smell-o-vision-also-very-valuable dept.

First time accepted submitter sydneyhype writes "Seven schools across Europe have been testing the effectiveness of 3D learning tools — specifically 3D projections of body organs in biology class. A study found test results jumped up by 17%. Prof Bamford says, 'Children can see how things function. Instead of learning about the heart statically they can see it in a solid way, literally see blood passing through the valves, see exchange of oxygen, rotate it, tilt it and zoom in.'"

6 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Novelty. by dgatwood · · Score: 4, Informative

    Anything significantly different from what people are used to will have this effect because things that are novel tend to capture people's attention.

    In twenty years, when everybody has a 3D TV set, I doubt it will have nearly the same effect.

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    1. Re:Novelty. by MidnightBrewer · · Score: 2

      I disagree. This is about visualization of 3D objects students are traditionally forced to study using 2D illustrations and text descriptions. Allowing them to see something like a human heart from every angle as it operates is a killer application. Your argument is similar to saying that showing kids color images over black and white will lose its effectiveness because color is just a fad. The better we can visualize things the easier they are to comprehend. Finally, a real use for 3D!

      --
      "Give a man fire, and he'll be warm for a day; set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life
  2. Surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This sort of experiment is a classic for the Hawthorne Effect. Excited children having a chance to try out the latest technology... of course their test results went up.

  3. A new technology works well in some areas... by skine · · Score: 2

    But I'm fairly certain that school boards will expect all teachers to find uses for it.

  4. Study funded by equipment manufacturer by raaum · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's hardly surprising that the study found such an amazing effect, since any study that did not would never have been released to the public.

    "The study, conducted by researchers from the International Research Agency on behalf of Texas Instruments" was destined to find that Texas Instruments 3D tools are amazing. What's left unsaid is that the 30 other studies that TI funded didn't find any effect.

  5. Re:Just a thought by MidnightBrewer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Optometrists have already said that children below the age of five may be at risk if they use 3D for several hours a day non-stop, because their true depth perception is still developing. After that age, however, the risks are slight to none. As someone who has no depth perception, I've had the reasons why explained to me pretty thoroughly.

    --
    "Give a man fire, and he'll be warm for a day; set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life