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Climate warming is transforming the Arctic and thawing permafrost. Teaching students about the consequences of a warming Arctic is difficult because of the complex changes occurring across varied spatial and temporal scales and the need to integrate understanding across various disciplines. A new adaptive, interactive digital learning environment called Polar Explorer makes this complex Arctic system more accessible to students. Polar Explorer consists of a suite of eight Expeditions built around a series of interactive Virtual Field Trips (iVFTs). The place-based Expeditions teach undergraduates about permafrost, how the dynamics of frozen ground shape Arctic landscapes, how climate warming is leading to permafrost thaw, and the profound impacts of permafrost degradation on infrastructure, ecosystems, communities, and global climate. The expeditions also integrate indigenous knowledge and …