Environmental Detectives: PDAs as a Window into a Virtual Simulated World (A Work in Progress) Eric Klopfer Massachusetts Institute of Technology Teacher Education Program 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg 7-337 Cambridge, MA 02139 Klopfer@mit.edu Voice: 617-253-2025 Fax: 815-372-4178 Kurt Squire Massachusetts Institute of Technology Comparative Media Studies 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg14N-211 Cambridge, MA 02139 ksquire@mit.edu Voice: 617-452-2233 Fax: 617-258-5133 Henry Jenkins Massachusetts Institute of Technology Comparative Media Studies 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg 14N-207 Cambridge, MA 02139 Henry3@mit.edu Voice: 617-253-3599 Fax: 617-258-5133 Contact: Eric Klopfer – Klopfer@mit.edu Abstract The use of computer simulations is changing the nature of scientific investigation and providing us unique insights into the way that the world works. As simulation moves from the desktop to more ubiquitous portable devices (such as PDAs), we can draw upon the unique affordances of these devices - portability, social interactivity, context sensitivity, connectivity, and individuality. The purpose of this research project is to develop and examine a new simulation platform that is designed from the ground up for handheld to create augmented reality simulations (i.e. simulations that bridge virtual and real worlds). This paper describes Environmental Detectives, one such augmented reality simulation that is currently being developed at MIT. In the upcoming months, we will develop and test this concept as well as produce a suite of authoring tools that students and teachers can use to design their own augmented reality simulations.