Analyzing 360° Interactive Environments and GIS: Impacts on Student Learning in Polar Places and Spaces

Investments in polar research have produced critical data for integrating into undergraduate geoscience curricula on climate change. Tools like 360-degree Interactive Environments (360 IEs) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance learning by connecting polar research data to classrooms. The NSF-funded PolarPASS curriculum, incorporating Greenland-specific datasets, was implemented in five classrooms (n = 90 students) and a pre-post design efficacy study was conducted. Results show improved understanding of polar processes and enriched “sense of place” in students. Students developed deeper emotional and intellectual connections to Greenland, associating it with human and scientific attributes. The results demonstrate the efficacy of this place-focused curriculum.