Virtual Explorers
Discover how interactive storytelling in virtual worlds can inspire, educate and empower.
Throughout history, we’ve relied on pioneers to shape how we explore, discover, and acquire new knowledge. The Oregon Trail invited explorers to forge their own paths through the unknown, turning history into an interactive experience. Now, a new frontier is calling, and this time, you have the opportunity to be the pioneer. At the heart of our exploration is storytelling. The tools to create interactive, story-driven experiences have never been more accessible, and the chance to tell new stories that educate, challenge, and inspire is finally within reach.
Research shows that narrative-based learning enhances knowledge retention, critical thinking, and student engagement. A study published in Learning and Instruction found that students learning through interactive storytelling demonstrated improved problem-solving skills and deeper comprehension (Perry et al., 2019). Another study highlights that role-playing games (RPGs) can increase motivation, collaboration, and decision-making skills in learners (Dicheva et al., 2022).
RPGs are more than fantasy adventures – they are infinitely adaptable. They provide a framework where any subject, time period, or perspective can be explored through interaction designed to demonstrate comprehension. For too long, technical barriers limited who could tell stories in this medium, but that is no longer the case. Seasoned development platforms, generative AI tools, and affordable asset libraries make it possible for small groups, with even smaller budgets, to create meaningful experiences.
Today’s students are already exploring, creating, collaborating, and problem-solving in ways we’ve never seen before. As of Q3 2024, Roblox, our primary development platform, had over 88.9 million daily active users globally with its fastest-growing demographic being users between the ages of 17 and 24. (Statista) The time is right, our bags are packed, the only question that remains is: are you ready to join the exploration?
References
Perry, M., Samuelson, K., & Weston, J. (2019). The impact of interactive storytelling on student problem-solving and engagement. Learning and Instruction, 62, 1213-1220.
Dicheva, D., Dichev, C., Agre, G., & Angelova, G. (2022). Gamification in education: Role-playing games as tools for student engagement. Smart Learning Environments, 9(1), 1-15. Retrieved from slejournal.springeropen.com
Getting Started
Explore on Your Own
The Sherpa can help you:
Brainstorm how your content could work in a role-playing game
Formulate quest ideas, characters, and narrative options
Decide if you want to work with us and which phases of development you’d like to join
Explore at your own pace — no meetings required.
Explore with Us
Faculty can join us on an exploration at a level that fits their time and interest. Whether you’re contributing early ideas, reviewing content, or helping refine the final product, your expertise plays a critical role in creating engaging and accurate learning experiences.
You can choose to participate in any or all of the following phases of development:
1. Planning
Help define the game’s learning goals and overall concept. Share insights from your subject area and identify key challenges or misconceptions that could be explored through an interactive narrative experience.
2. Prototyping
Review early drafts of quests, dialog, and character ideas. Validate the accuracy of the content while we handle the writing and design.
3. Play Testing
Join — and optionally recruit students for — short sessions to observe how players interact with the experience. Player reactions help us refine pacing, clarity, and engagement.
4. Polishing
Approve the final version and receive ready-made slides, screenshots, and a summary you can use in presentations, reports, or grant materials. You’ll also be credited in the final product.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’d like to schedule a meeting to learn more about becoming a Virtual Explorer, click the below button to fill out our basecamp survey.
Our Platforms
Virtual Explorers focus on platforms that are user-friendly, cost-effective, and versatile enough to support a variety of learning objectives. We choose tools with strong community support, extensive tutorials, helpful plugins, and clear documentation, ensuring explorers can confidently manage and expand their projects long after our initial exploration.
Platforms We Support
Twine:
A free, open-source tool for creating interactive, nonlinear stories, often used in prototyping interactive narratives by allowing writers and designers to quickly map out branching dialogue, choices, and story logic in a visual, text-based format.
Roblox:
A versatile platform for building collaborative 3D environments with interactive spaces, object collection, and structured tasks.
ChatGPT (AI):
An AI-powered platform for generating story elements, dialogue, and interaction details. ChatGPT helps enhance the narrative and interactive aspects of virtual experiences while ensuring content aligns with learning objectives.
By combining Twine, Roblox and ChatGPT for AI-driven content generation, The Virtual Explorers deliver engaging, adaptable, and scalable learning experiences that are directly tied to educational goals.
The Virtual Explorers are always eager to explore new platforms as they emerge. However, we carefully evaluate each tool to ensure it offers long-term value, broad accessibility, and the ability to create meaningful learning experiences. By being thoughtful and deliberate in our choices, we stay innovative while providing reliable and sustainable solutions that meet the needs of our fellow explorers.