184SPRING ACADEMICS Mapping New Territory The History and Political Science Department invests in new technology for its students. THE HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT took a step forward with the use of new technology in the classroom. Thanks to the efforts of assistant professor of political science Liann Gallagher, a portion of the Ganus Fund was invested in an interactive, hands-on tool that showed in real-time how topography could affect a society’s agriculture, transportation and even specific battles. The sandbox, seemingly a simple toy, was anything but. “An augmented reality sandbox creates a topographic map on white sand in real-time and updates the map based on how you move the sand around,” Gallagher said. “It uses open-source software, a short-throw projector, and an Xbox Kinect to project contour lines and shaded imagery on top of the reflective white sand. As you move the sand around, the map updates. You can also virtually make it rain, or flood, or drain it.” Students in Gallagher’s geography class soaked up the chance to better understand their curriculum using the box. “In Dr. Gallagher’s geography course, we use the sandbox to show different terrains and elevations as well as how precipitation could play a factor in a particular environment,” senior Malik Mays said. “Overall, the sandbox is a great addition to the classroom, and I love using it every chance we get.” With this perspective, new concepts were more easily taken on by the classes. “It’s a very new and interesting way to teach geography and global information systems concepts,” senior Caroline Barineau said. “It adds another level of depth to lessons that might not be as engaging otherwise.” Despite having traditional lectures for most of the department, tools like the sandbox could direct the humanities toward new ways to analyze the causes and effects of historical events and dissect current political affairs. “One of the things that, for me, is really exciting is that this is a very lecture-based department, and I think it’s a cool way to show the access we have to technology even in the humanities,” Gallagher said. “One thing that it allows students to do is engage with the more kinetic side of learning. Students have really enjoyed interacting with the box, and it is very evident to see how they understand how the contour lines move, and the box can represent the world around them. There are so many applications for [the box], and you’re only limited by your imagination.” WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH FISHER
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