Demonstration

How can we help students understand the dynamic and spatial complexity of wildfires?

We are developing augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) simulations that immerse learners in wildfire scenarios, allowing them to observe fire behavior, interact with environmental variables, and make decisions in real time. The system will be grounded in geoscience education research and designed to support spatial thinking, systems-level reasoning, and decision-making in complex hazard contexts.

This Share-a-thon invites participants to engage directly with the current version of the simulation and elicit feedback on its development. Attendees will explore changing fire conditions, landscape interactions, and user decision points within an evolving hazard scenario. We will also highlight how the experience is structured to prompt learners to attend to key environmental cues and reflect on their decisions.

We are actively seeking feedback on usability, instructional potential, and integration into geoscience curricula. Participants will reflect on classroom applications and provide input to guide future development, including instructional supports and assessment approaches.

This session aims to foster collaboration between developers and educators to refine an emerging instructional tool.