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Learners And Collaborative Learning In Virtual Worlds: A Review Of The Literature

Year 2013, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 233 - 247, 01.06.2013

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present selected literature on learners and collaborative learning in virtual worlds. Research in virtual worlds on collaborative learners is gradually emerging and will gain in significance, particularly in online and distance education environments. It will be argued that the design and functionality of virtual worlds provides a platform for collaboration, particularly for learners that have grown up with digitalized learning environments and may have developed a preference for them. The paper starts with a clarification of terms, a description of the various categories and a chronological overview of the emergence and development of these environments. The familiarisation with the subject matter continues through a discussion of the significance, opportunities and barriers that this medium offers and is followed by an examination of learners’ characteristics and their implications for teaching and learning in virtual worlds. Drawing on recent examples of virtual worlds in education and some current statistics, the paper strives to meet the continuing education needs of practitioners and educator using virtual worlds. It concludes with an examination of the challenges and perspectives on collaborative learning in these environments and the trends in virtual worlds that impact the delivery of student learning.

References

  • Abbastista, F., Calefato, F., Lucia, A.D., Francese, R., Lanubile, F., Passero, I. & Tortora, G., (2009). Virtual Worlds: do we really need the third dimension to support collaborative learning? ViWo workshop (ICWL 2009), 19-21 August, Aachen, Germany. http://www.iicm.tugraz.at/home/cguetl/Conferences/ViWo/ViWo2009Workshop/fina lpapers/ViWo2009Workshop_03.pdf Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  • BBC (2011). The US virtual economy is set to make billions. Retrieved October 3, 2012 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8425623.stm
  • Chang, V., Gütl, C., Kopeinik, S., & Williams, R. (2009). Evaluation of Collaborative
  • Learning Settingsin 3D Virtual Worlds. International. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), Vol 4 (2009): Special Issue: ICL2009, 6-17. Retrieved 8 June 2012 http://www.iicm.tugraz.at/about/Homepages/cguetl/publications/2009/Chang%20e t%20al.%202009%20-%20iJET.pdf
  • Chen, C.J., & Wan, F. (2008). Guiding exploration through three-dimensional virtual environments: a cognitive load reduction approach. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, Vol. 19, No 4, pp. 579-596.
  • Cherbakov, L., Brunner, R., Lu, C., & Smart, R., (2009). Virtual Spaces: Enabling
  • Immersive Collaborative Enterprise, Part 1: Introduction to the opportunities and technologies. IBM, Developer Works. Retrieved June 8, 2012 from http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/dw/webservices/ws- virtualspaces/ws-virtualspaces-pdf.pdf
  • Damer, B. (2008).Meeting in the Ether. A brief history of virtual worlds as a medium for user-created events. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. July, Vol. 1, No 1, pp.e 1-17. de Freitas, S. (2008). Serious virtual worlds: A scoping study. Bristol, UK: Joint
  • Information Systems Committee. Retrieved 6 October 2012, from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/seriousvirtualworldsv1.pdf
  • Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, Sydney, NSW, pp. 399-4
  • Hew, K.F. & Cheung, W.S. (2010). Use of three-dimensional (3-D) immersive virtual worlds in K-12 and higher education settings: A review of the research. British Journal of Educational Technology. Vol. 41, No1, pp. 33-55.
  • Kluge, S. & Riley, E. (2008). Teaching in Virtual Worlds: Opportunities and Challenges.
  • Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology Vol. 5, pp. 127-135. Retrieved 8 June 2012, from http://proceedings.informingscience.org/InSITE2008/IISITv5p127-135Kluge459.pdf
  • KZero (2009). Growth forecast for the Virtual Worlds Sector. Retrieved 22 March 2012 from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/growth-forecasts-for-the-virtual-worlds-sector
  • KZero (2011a). Virtual World registered accounts reach 800m. Retrieved 3 October 2012 from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/virtual-world-registered-accounts- breakthrough-800m
  • KZero (2011b). Latest News. Retrieved 20 March 2012, from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog
  • Lee, M. J. W. (2009). How Can 3d Virtual Worlds Be used To Support Collaborative
  • Learning? An Analysis Of Cases From The Literature. Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society, Vol. 5, No 1, February 2009, pp. 149-158.
  • McNaught, Lam & Ho (2009). The digital divide between university students and teachers in Hong Kong. Proceedings ascilite Auckland 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2012, from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/procs/mcnaught.pdf
  • Messinger, P. R.; Stroulia, E. & Lyons, K. (2008). A Typology of Virtual Worlds:
  • Historical Overview and Future directions. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. July 200 Vol. 1, No1 pp. 1-18. Pfeil, U., Ang, C.S. & Zaphiris, P. (2009). Issues and challenges of teaching and learning in 3 D virtual worlds: real life case studies. Educational Media International. Vol. 46, No. 3 September 2009, pp. 223-238.
  • Second Life (2011). 2009 End of Year Second Life Economy Wrap up. Retrieved 3
  • October 2012, from http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/2009-End-of-Year
  • Second-Life-Economy-Wrap-up-including-Q4/ba-p/653078
  • Shen, J. & Eder, L. B. (2009). Intentions to Use Virtual Worlds for Education. Journal of
  • Information Systems Education, Vol. 20, No 2, pp. 225-233. Warburton, S. (2009). Second Life in higher education: Assessing the potential for and the barriers to deploying virtual worlds in learning and teaching. British Journal of
  • Educational Technology. Vol. 40, No 3, pp.s 414–426) Retrieved 6 June 2012, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2009.00952.x/pdf
Year 2013, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 233 - 247, 01.06.2013

Abstract

References

  • Abbastista, F., Calefato, F., Lucia, A.D., Francese, R., Lanubile, F., Passero, I. & Tortora, G., (2009). Virtual Worlds: do we really need the third dimension to support collaborative learning? ViWo workshop (ICWL 2009), 19-21 August, Aachen, Germany. http://www.iicm.tugraz.at/home/cguetl/Conferences/ViWo/ViWo2009Workshop/fina lpapers/ViWo2009Workshop_03.pdf Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  • BBC (2011). The US virtual economy is set to make billions. Retrieved October 3, 2012 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8425623.stm
  • Chang, V., Gütl, C., Kopeinik, S., & Williams, R. (2009). Evaluation of Collaborative
  • Learning Settingsin 3D Virtual Worlds. International. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), Vol 4 (2009): Special Issue: ICL2009, 6-17. Retrieved 8 June 2012 http://www.iicm.tugraz.at/about/Homepages/cguetl/publications/2009/Chang%20e t%20al.%202009%20-%20iJET.pdf
  • Chen, C.J., & Wan, F. (2008). Guiding exploration through three-dimensional virtual environments: a cognitive load reduction approach. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, Vol. 19, No 4, pp. 579-596.
  • Cherbakov, L., Brunner, R., Lu, C., & Smart, R., (2009). Virtual Spaces: Enabling
  • Immersive Collaborative Enterprise, Part 1: Introduction to the opportunities and technologies. IBM, Developer Works. Retrieved June 8, 2012 from http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/dw/webservices/ws- virtualspaces/ws-virtualspaces-pdf.pdf
  • Damer, B. (2008).Meeting in the Ether. A brief history of virtual worlds as a medium for user-created events. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. July, Vol. 1, No 1, pp.e 1-17. de Freitas, S. (2008). Serious virtual worlds: A scoping study. Bristol, UK: Joint
  • Information Systems Committee. Retrieved 6 October 2012, from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/seriousvirtualworldsv1.pdf
  • Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, Sydney, NSW, pp. 399-4
  • Hew, K.F. & Cheung, W.S. (2010). Use of three-dimensional (3-D) immersive virtual worlds in K-12 and higher education settings: A review of the research. British Journal of Educational Technology. Vol. 41, No1, pp. 33-55.
  • Kluge, S. & Riley, E. (2008). Teaching in Virtual Worlds: Opportunities and Challenges.
  • Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology Vol. 5, pp. 127-135. Retrieved 8 June 2012, from http://proceedings.informingscience.org/InSITE2008/IISITv5p127-135Kluge459.pdf
  • KZero (2009). Growth forecast for the Virtual Worlds Sector. Retrieved 22 March 2012 from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/growth-forecasts-for-the-virtual-worlds-sector
  • KZero (2011a). Virtual World registered accounts reach 800m. Retrieved 3 October 2012 from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/virtual-world-registered-accounts- breakthrough-800m
  • KZero (2011b). Latest News. Retrieved 20 March 2012, from http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog
  • Lee, M. J. W. (2009). How Can 3d Virtual Worlds Be used To Support Collaborative
  • Learning? An Analysis Of Cases From The Literature. Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society, Vol. 5, No 1, February 2009, pp. 149-158.
  • McNaught, Lam & Ho (2009). The digital divide between university students and teachers in Hong Kong. Proceedings ascilite Auckland 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2012, from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/procs/mcnaught.pdf
  • Messinger, P. R.; Stroulia, E. & Lyons, K. (2008). A Typology of Virtual Worlds:
  • Historical Overview and Future directions. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. July 200 Vol. 1, No1 pp. 1-18. Pfeil, U., Ang, C.S. & Zaphiris, P. (2009). Issues and challenges of teaching and learning in 3 D virtual worlds: real life case studies. Educational Media International. Vol. 46, No. 3 September 2009, pp. 223-238.
  • Second Life (2011). 2009 End of Year Second Life Economy Wrap up. Retrieved 3
  • October 2012, from http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/2009-End-of-Year
  • Second-Life-Economy-Wrap-up-including-Q4/ba-p/653078
  • Shen, J. & Eder, L. B. (2009). Intentions to Use Virtual Worlds for Education. Journal of
  • Information Systems Education, Vol. 20, No 2, pp. 225-233. Warburton, S. (2009). Second Life in higher education: Assessing the potential for and the barriers to deploying virtual worlds in learning and teaching. British Journal of
  • Educational Technology. Vol. 40, No 3, pp.s 414–426) Retrieved 6 June 2012, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2009.00952.x/pdf
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ria Hanewald This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2013
Submission Date February 27, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2013 Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Hanewald, R. (2013). Learners And Collaborative Learning In Virtual Worlds: A Review Of The Literature. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 14(2), 233-247.