Abstract
This study used augmented reality and mobile learning technologies to design a virtual butterfly ecological environment for learning butterfly ecology. Students can breed virtual caterpillars on host plants using smart phones, and become familiar with butterflys life cycle by observing their growth. The virtual campus butterfly ecological environment can reduce the difficulty of building and managing a real butterfly garden, and solve the problems of insufficient species and amount of butterflies. Providing a context-aware learning environment, the system can enhance students learning motivation and interest via virtual breeding and observation activities. Thus, it can be used as an assistant tool for learning butterfly ecology in elementary and junior high schools. © 2012 IEEE.