This unit enables students to approach the complex topics of climate change and biodiversity by transforming abstract scientific concepts into immersive experiences through augmented reality. Through virtual scenarios ranging from past to future, students visualized the evolution of ecosystems and current threats such as coral bleaching or the loss of key species, reflecting on the causes and the importance of sustainability-focused choices. 

Practical activities inspired by bio-inspiration fostered understanding and the search for concrete solutions, demonstrating how learning from nature can guide innovative and effective strategies for real-world challenges, in alignment with the goals of the 2030 Agenda. 

The use of AR tools facilitated active and collaborative learning: 3D models, interactive quizzes, immediate feedback, and group activities stimulated curiosity, enhanced critical thinking, and strengthened both environmental knowledge and transversal skills like communication and teamwork. 

In conclusion, this experience made the connection between theory and reality more direct and engaging, encouraging students to keep exploring, analyzing, and imagining responsible solutions for the planet’s future.

Phase Description
Explore

Research and Discovery:  students investigate the impact of climate change on biodiversity by virtually exploring a range of environments (e.g., medieval manors, coral reefs, Seychelles, Arctic)

Content Development:  Present and connect fundamental concepts from environmental science, chemistry, physics and thermodynamics, focusing on real-world phenomena (e.g., links between sea pH and temperature, greenhouse gases, albedo, extinction risks).

Needs Analysis:  to identify students’ prior knowledge and misconceptions, laying a strong foundation with 3D models, videos, clear narration and interactive visuals.
Execute


Curriculum Implementation:  Practical activities harnessing AR to simulate the effects of melting glaciers, sea-level rise, habitat loss and biodiversity decline over time help with the critical thinking and soft skills, but also with innovative ideas about the making-decision process.

Interactive Exercises:  Students use interactive models and overlays to compare past, present and future scenarios, critically reflect on causes and consequences, and complete quizzes that assess understanding.

Feedback Collection:  Share AR projects, reflect on outcomes, and get feedback from peers/teachers.
Enhance

AR Integration:  Use AR app Delightex with Ecosystems on the edge to visualize habitats and climate changes hypothetical impacts

Interactive Learning:  Explore ecosystems into the AR App making ecological concepts tangible with immersive scenarios, contextual videos, imaginary futuristic scenarios.

Gamified Content:

  • Points and Badges:  dynamic scoring system where they earn “points” or none at all by answering the questions 
  • Quests and Levels: The questions difficulty level increase with the time, each scenario is different and at first is very basic because they first engage with the habitats and the videos showed and then they go through the real challenge 
  • Rewards for Exploration: The earning points system encourage them to apply their knowledge to gain more point in each phase and, at the end, they can do a ranking list with the points earned.
  • Collaborative Gamified Tasks: They can work on a different subtopic with AR and make a project with the same scheme, like introducing videos, images, 3D models, they can also test the coding system by making  Questions&Answers or a scoring system.

AR-Based Assessments:  Replace traditional tests with AR-based evaluations, such as students exploring their AR urban ecosystem models or completing biodiversity “quests” in real environments.