‘It’s like being in bubbles’: affordances and challenges of virtual learning environments for collaborative learning in interpreter education

This chapter is an evaluation of the efficiency of 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments to facilitate the implementation of collaborative learning activities. Firstly, there is a presentation of the state of the art regarding open source as well as proprietary platforms. Afterwards, the use of a case study reveals issues concerning the suitability of open source Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments, rationalizing the choice of executing a collaborative learning scenario in Second Life. The specific scenario is then presented culminating in evaluation results related to the appropriateness of Second Life with regards to its technical and pedagogical affordances. Finally, students' suggestions and reactions towards such a novel didactical approach are discussed.

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Open Source vs. Proprietary Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments

Knowledge Discovery, Transfer, and Management in the Information Age - Advances in Knowledge Acquisition, Transfer, and Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-4711-4.ch007 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 141-157

Author(s):

Apostolos Mavridis ◽

Andreas Konstantinidis ◽

Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos

Keyword(s):

Collaborative Learning ◽

Open Source ◽

Learning Environments ◽

Second Life ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Virtual Learning ◽

Virtual Learning Environments ◽

Learning Activities ◽

Specific Scenario

This chapter is an evaluation of the efficiency of 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments to facilitate the implementation of collaborative learning activities. Firstly, there is a presentation of the state of the art regarding open source as well as proprietary platforms. Afterwards, the use of a case study reveals issues concerning the suitability of open source Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments, rationalizing the choice of executing a collaborative learning scenario in Second Life. The specific scenario is then presented culminating in evaluation results related to the appropriateness of Second Life with regards to its technical and pedagogical affordances. Finally, students' suggestions and reactions towards such a novel didactical approach are discussed.

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A Comparison of 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments

International Journal of e-Collaboration ◽

10.4018/jec.2012100102 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 8-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Apostolos Mavridis ◽

Andreas Konstantinidis ◽

Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos

Keyword(s):

Collaborative Learning ◽

Open Source ◽

Learning Environments ◽

Second Life ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Virtual Learning ◽

The State ◽

Virtual Learning Environments ◽

Proprietary Software

This paper focuses on 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments, examining the state of the art in both open source and proprietary software. Issues pertaining to the use of open source Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments are discussed, rationalizing the choice of executing a collaborative learning scenario in Second Life. The scenario is then presented and evaluation results assess the appropriateness of the chosen platform with regards to its technical and pedagogical affordances. Finally, students’ suggestions and reactions towards such a novel didactical approach are discussed.

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Interaction forms in successful collaborative learning in virtual learning environments

Active Learning in Higher Education ◽

10.1177/1469787415616730 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 25-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Essi Vuopala ◽

Pirkko Hyvönen ◽

Sanna Järvelä

Keyword(s):

Collaborative Learning ◽

Learning Environments ◽

Virtual Learning ◽

Virtual Learning Environments

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Exploring Self-Regulation Based Virtual Learning Environments Using Diary

Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.2174/2213385203666150828233907 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 66-75

Author(s):

Mahmoud Mohamed Hussien Ahmed ◽

Chaklam Silpasuwanchai ◽

Naglaa Mohammed Fares ◽

Zeinab Mohamed Amin ◽

Abd El-Rahem Ahmed Ahmed Salama

Keyword(s):

Learning Environments ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Virtual Learning ◽

Virtual Learning Environments

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Developing information literacy courses for students through virtual learning environments in Tanzania: Prospects and challenges

IFLA Journal ◽

10.1177/03400352211018231 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 034003522110182

Author(s):

Evans F Wema

Keyword(s):

Learning Environments ◽

Information Literacy ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Virtual Learning ◽

Higher Learning ◽

Virtual Learning Environments ◽

Web Based ◽

Face To Face ◽

Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽

The Face

This article reviews literature on the use of virtual learning environments by highlighting their potential and the challenges of introducing the same in Tanzania. It introduces the concept of virtual learning environments by demonstrating their applications to support teaching and learning. The article discusses the use of virtual learning environments in teaching information literacy courses by highlighting the success of using such tools in facilitating the teaching of information literacy courses to library users. In this review, special emphasis is placed on attempts by Tanzanian institutions of higher learning to introduce web-based teaching of information literacy and the challenges faced. The review reveals the need for Tanzanian institutions of higher learning to develop virtual learning environments to facilitate the teaching of information literacy courses to students and faculty so as to reach many of those who may not manage to attend the face-to-face information literacy sessions that are offered by librarians on a regular basis.

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