Virtual Worlds for Developing Intercultural Competence

2020 ◽  
pp. 170-185
Author(s):  
Lisiane Machado ◽  
Angilberto Freitas ◽  
Eliane Schlemmer ◽  
Cristiane Drebes Pedron
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Educational Method ◽  
Exchange Program ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Tolerance For Ambiguity ◽  
Conversational Learning

The authors present a framework for developing intercultural competence (IC) and use tridimensional digital virtual worlds (3DVW) as environments for developing IC. They developed an artifact, via design research, constituted by an educational method using the 3DVW Second Life® as the place for a virtual exchange program between 92 Brazilian and Portuguese master students. The results of the study indicate that the 3DVW can be used for the development of IC because it allows rich experiential and relational/conversational learning opportunities, especially due to the affordances of immersion/sense of presence, social interaction, content production, and knowledge sharing. The students involved in the virtual exchange inside Second Life® had to practice a set of attitudes and skills such as communication skills; culture-specific knowledge; understanding others' worldviews; skills to analyze, evaluate, and relate; skills to listen, observe, and interpret; respect, openness; tolerance for ambiguity, among other, that are all attributes of IC.

The Use of Virtual Worlds for Developing Intercultural Competences

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisiane Machado ◽  
Amarolinda Zanela Klein ◽  
Angilberto Freitas ◽  
Eliane Schlemmer ◽  
Cristiane Drebes Pedron
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Educational Method ◽  
Exchange Program ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Conversational Learning

In this research, the authors present a framework for developing Intercultural Competence (IC) and use Tridimensional Digital Virtual Worlds (3DVW) as environments for developing Intercultural Competence. They developed an artifact, via Design Research, constituted by an educational method using the 3DVW Second Life® as the place for a virtual exchange program between 92 Brazilian and Portuguese master students. The results of the authors' study indicate that the 3DVW can be used for the development of IC because it allows rich experiential and relational/conversational learning opportunities, especially due to the affordances of immersion/sense of presence, social interaction, content production and knowledge sharing.

The Use of Virtual Worlds for Developing Intercultural Competences

2020 ◽  
pp. 754-768
Author(s):  
Lisiane Machado ◽  
Amarolinda Zanela Klein ◽  
Angilberto Freitas ◽  
Eliane Schlemmer ◽  
Cristiane Drebes Pedron
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Educational Method ◽  
Exchange Program ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Conversational Learning

In this research, the authors present a framework for developing Intercultural Competence (IC) and use Tridimensional Digital Virtual Worlds (3DVW) as environments for developing Intercultural Competence. They developed an artifact, via Design Research, constituted by an educational method using the 3DVW Second Life® as the place for a virtual exchange program between 92 Brazilian and Portuguese master students. The results of the authors' study indicate that the 3DVW can be used for the development of IC because it allows rich experiential and relational/conversational learning opportunities, especially due to the affordances of immersion/sense of presence, social interaction, content production and knowledge sharing.

MMOmuseums: A Proposal for the Creation of Experiential Memory Archives

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Saklofske
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Virtual Spaces ◽  
Virtual Archaeology ◽  
Role Playing Games ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Ghost Towns ◽  
Player Experiences ◽  
Massively Multiplayer

The visibility and longevity of popular and well-known massively multiplayer online (MMO) communities (World of Warcraft, Second Life) eclipse a greater number of virtual worlds that have been abandoned. While hundreds of inactive and closed-down massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) have been documented, most online virtual worlds are not included in archival and preservation initiatives due to issues relating to intellectual property and proprietary technologies, and most MMORPG ghost towns are not even accessible online. Their evaporated geographies live on only in the memories and stories posted by players to archived message forums. What if these worlds could be booted up once again, not to play in, but to explore as virtual archaeology sites, sites redesigned to host stories and memories from the players that once inhabited and originally populated these architectures with action, conflict, cooperation, and event? Such virtual archive spaces would feature player experiences and emergent narratives, represented as embedded narratives in a simulated recreation of the computer-generated geographies that they took place in, so that visitors to such sites experience a sense of presence as they receive a combination of both experience and story that preserves these spaces as lived worlds. Using the now-defunct City of Heroes MMO as an example, this paper discusses ways of directly involving diasporic communities of players in the memorialization of virtual spaces that they once inhabited.

scholarly journals A Design Research Approach to Developing User Innovation Workshops in Second Life

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Remko Helms ◽  
Elia Giovacchini ◽  
Robin Teigland ◽  
Thomas Kohler
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Design Science Research ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
User Innovation ◽  
Specific Project

The Design Science Research approach is increasingly being applied in the field of Information Systems (IS) research. The philosophy behind design science research is that new scientific knowledge can be generated by means of constructing an artifact, and the core of this approach is a problem solving process used to develop the artifact. As virtual worlds are a relatively new IS medium, limited attention has been paid to investigating the use of design research in virtual worlds. Nevertheless, it is considered a relevant approach as much research in the field of virtual worlds involves the design of virtual spaces to support some kind of business activity. As such, the research purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of the design research approach in virtual worlds. In this paper, we describe and take a practical perspective of a specific case study in which design research was developed and used for a specific project. The specific project in focus is the development of a user innovation workshop inside Second Life for a start-up company interested in gaining insights and ideas for the development of its product.

scholarly journals Second Life as a research environment: avatar-based focus groups (AFG)

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Gadalla ◽  
Ibrahim Abosag ◽  
Kathy Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Purpose – This study aims to examine the nature and the potential use of avatar-based focus groups (AFGs) (i.e. focus groups conducted in three-dimensional [3D] virtual worlds [VWs]) as compared to face-to-face and online focus groups (OFGs), motivated by the ability of VWs to stimulate the realism of physical places. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in using 3D VWs as a research tool. Design/methodology/approach – Using a two-phase reflective approach, data were collected first by using traditional face-to-face focus groups, followed by AFGs. In Phase 2, an online, semi-structured survey provided comparison data and experiences in AFGs, two-dimensional OFGs and traditional face-to-face focus groups. Findings – The findings identify the advantages and disadvantages of AFGs for marketing research. There is no evident difference in data quality between the results of AFGs and face-to-face focus groups. AFG compensates for some of the serious limitations associated with OFGs. Practical implications – The paper reflects on three issues, data quality, conduct of AFGs (including the moderator reflection) and participant experience, that together inform one’s understanding of the characteristics, advantages and limitations of AFG. Originality/value – This is the first paper to compare between AFGs, traditional face-to-face focus groups and OFGs. AFG holds many advantages over OFGs and even, sometimes, over face-to-face focus groups, providing a suitable environment for researchers to collect data.

scholarly journals Strategies and Challenges to Facilitate Situated Learning in Virtual Worlds Post-Second Life

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Conrad ◽  
Adil Hassan ◽  
Lyzgeo Koshy ◽  
Aslan Kanamgotov ◽  
Athanasios Christopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Situated Learning ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life

scholarly journals Developing an Obesity Prevention Intervention in Virtual Worlds: The International Health Challenge in Second Life

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer Siddiqi ◽  
Scherezade K. Mama ◽  
Rebecca E. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
International Health ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Health Challenge ◽  
Prevention Project ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Virtual worlds (VW) present an exciting range of possibilities for health researchers and practitioners. The value of this technology lies its ability to tap into non-traditional participant pools, to use innovative and effective forms of social interaction, and to facilitate cost-effective solutions to common challenges. The International Health Challenge (IHC) was a health intervention study done entirely in the VW of Second Life (SL) aimed at determining the feasibility and effect of obesity prevention interventions in VWs. The IHC initially started as a strategy to develop a multicultural obesity prevention project in SL as evidenced by a full service build, activities, and participating resident avatars. Using existing resources and extensive social networks, together with volunteer assistance, the IHC flourished into a full scale health intervention with the goals of improving health knowledge, attitudes and behavior among resident avatars. In the absence of clear technological and methodological precedence, our multidisciplinary team developed a novel system of in-world and Web-based interactive measurement tools, data management solutions, and participant recruitment and retention strategies.

scholarly journals Virtual Worlds Round Table

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Yee ◽  
Liz Losh ◽  
Sarah Robbins-Bell
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Round Table ◽  
State University ◽  
Online Journal ◽  
Ball State University

By being an online journal, the JVWR allows for the inclusion of some pieces that might not otherwise fit a standard journal. This was the thought behind bringing together a group of virtual world scholars to discuss a series of questions and share their thoughts. Meeting in Second Life, Nick Yee (PARC), Liz Losh (UC Irvine), and Sarah Robbins-Bell (Ball State University) were gracious enough to share their thoughts on the study of virtual worlds culture.

scholarly journals DE LA PRESENCIALIDAD A LA INTERACCION VIRTUAL 3D (FROM PRESENTIALITY TO THE 3D VIRTUAL INTERACTION)

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-53
Author(s):  
Eduardo Campazzo ◽  
Alejandra Guzmán ◽  
Marcelo Martínez ◽  
Andrea Aguero
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
National University ◽  
Nuevas Tecnologías ◽  
Technology And Communication ◽  
La Rioja ◽  
The Impact

La necesidad de actualización y adecuación permanente de nuestras prácticas educativas en el ámbito de la Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, la transferencia de conocimientos adquiridos y la evolución tecnológica dinámica a la que nos enfrentamos en las nuevas metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje, son aspectos fundamentales que aseguran el impacto de las acciones formativas futuras.- A través del uso adecuado de las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación es posible  generar  entornos educativos más creativos e innovadores que permitan que los alumnos continúen desarrollando un aprendizaje autónomo a través de la educación a distancia, en entornos de inmersión que apliquen tecnologías multiusuario de los mundos virtuales, pudiendo reproducir y ampliar los límites físicos del aula. Palabras clave: Trabajo Colaborativo, Mundos Inmersivos 3D, Interactividad, Moodle, Sloodle, Second Life, Virtualidad,  Enseñanza-Aprendizaje. AbstractThe need for constant updating and adaptation of our educational practices in the area of the National University of La Rioja, knowledge transfer and technological change dynamics that we face in the new methodologies of teaching and learning are key aspects ensure the impact of training initiatives for the future .- Through the appropriate use of new Information Technology and Communication is possible to create educational environments more creative and innovative to enable students to further develop independent learning through distance education In immersive environments to implement technologies, multi-user virtual worlds can replicate and expand the physical boundaries of the classroom.Keywords: Collaborative Work, immersive worlds 3D, Interactivity, Moodle, Sloodle, Second Life, Virtuality, Teaching and Learning.

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