The ENVISAGE case study sheds light on innovate ways in which educators can make use of state-of-the-art game analytics and game authoring in order to analyse user behaviour data and, based on this, optimise learning experiences in online virtual labs.

This case study acquaints participants with ENVISAGE, an innovative solution focused on optimizing learning processes involving the use of online virtual labs. Such virtual spaces have the potential to revolutionize the educational landscape by providing students with distance courses and curricula that otherwise would be difficult if not infeasible to offer. 

ENVISAGE makes use of knowledge from the domain of digital games, where capturing and analysis of detailed player behavioral data has reached mature levels in recent years. Game Analytics is used to profile users, predict their behavior, provide insights into the design of games, and adapt games to users. These mature technologies can be readily migrated to learning analytics especially in the situation of virtual labs, as these are delivered online thus enabling detailed tracking of learner behavioral data. Tracking and understanding learner behavioral data can facilitate decision-making when designing an online virtual lab, as well as allowing to adapt the learning content to students' personal needs and characteristics.

Participants familiarise themselves with this data-driven approach to designing, adapting, revising, and evolving online virtual labs. The case study aims to inspire them to become creative practitioners in their professional settings, designing a concrete educational scenario involving the use of resources and activities proposed by ENVISAGE. They can choose to focus on one or more online virtual labs, selecting from a variety spanning fom controlling a farm of wind generators, to doing chemistry on molecules and bonds, or even archeology in a cave. Using a high-level easy-to-use authoring environment, educators can design, adapt and implement their own high-standard virtual labs. 

The ENVISAGE case study is based on the activities and outcomes of the ENVISAGE project.