Imagine that a Time Machine was more than a figment of H.G. Wells’ creative mind.
What if you could step into history, but not just as an observer, as a participant?
What if at the press of a button, you could find yourself shopping in the market of an ancient city or drinking tea in a turn of the century European café? In Simnik, walking through the pages of history is not science fiction. It is an innovative, 21st century approach to learning that is available today.
History is much more than list of facts and dates. In Simnik it is an immersive and interactive 3D learning experience where students observe the context of historical events and examine the artifacts of a time gone by. They can learn geography by navigating virtual space, while guided by scale reproductions of actual landmarks. They can interact with the virtual world and its other residents as avatars, animated characters that reflect their own persona, but are dressed in clothing authentic to the era. Music, taped dialogue, or sound effects add an additional dimension to this experience.
All of this sets the stage for participation in the unfolding story of civilization. Through role-play, simulation, problem exploration, discovery, and critical thinking, Simnik can challenge, motivate and inspire learning. For example, learners can be presented with a puzzle that can only be solved by finding and investigating a number of locations, interacting with other avatars and “non-player” characters, and using virtual tools to research clues. Or pivotal historical moments can be researched and then staged using avatars, with a group of students serving as observers and analysts. The variety and depth of activity in Simnik is only limited by imagination.
“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Millions of children have learned this rote rhyme. What if they had the opportunity to “sail” with Columbus on a virtual ship and see the voyage from his perspective and that of his crew? Everything about that rhyme would have new levels of meaning.
It is time for the educational community to take a journey. It is time to discover a new virtual world; one where the content and context of history are accessible, memorable, and meaningful. Bon voyage!