Integrating Arctic Cultural Environments in the Classroom
With support from the University of Maine's Experiential Programs Innovation Central (EPIC) Natalia and Matthew Magnani, assistant professors of anthropology and climate change, integrate VR and 3D printing into their courses on Arctic and Museum Anthropology for students to examine first hand the impacts of a changing climate and state development.
In Arctic Anthropology, students were transported thousands of miles away to Sápmi, where they explored sites of green energy production and Indigenous-made museum exhibitions. In Museum Anthropology, students explored Arctic museum galleries from around the world, and engaged collections of material culture in three dimensions. Not only did students learn how to navigate and engage these novel resources, but they also learned to use and create content with the technologies themselves.
The courses are part of the activities of the Thematic Network on Digital North: Three-Dimensional Technologies and Arctic Education.