Between snapshots and avatars: using visual methodologies for fieldwork in Second Life

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Roush ◽  
Ming Nie ◽  
Matthew Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Teaching And Learning Environment ◽  
The Media ◽  
Pedagogical Frameworks

For a Digital Photography degree Second Life presents a unique teaching and learning environment. It is one of the most photographed 3-D Immersive Virtual Worlds with snapshots (digital images) of its residents and locations circulating abundantly online and in the media. Crucially, in addition to offering its own photographic tools, it is a rich social space with many possibilities for art-based photographic research. However, in spite of the large community of educators now working in Second Life and the increasing number of universities extending their presences in-world, pedagogical frameworks to bring art and media students for fieldwork in Second Life are still relatively rare and educators wanting to explore creative approaches may find themselves in a situation similar to other “newbies”: with a dressed up avatar…but nowhere to go! This paper addresses this issue with a discussion of a case study that fostered collaborative learning in a Second Life photography-based research project. We delineate the use of photographic tools available in Second Life to both capture and display images and describe the activities used for situated ethnographic work. This experiment demonstrates a good example of how to use Second Life for supporting group discussion and interaction through the development of interactive objects. The results also show the potential of Second Life for researching into subcultures and promoting students to consider broader ethical issues when conducting photo-based fieldwork in Second Life and other environments.

Participant-Observation as a Method for Analyzing Avatar Design in User-Generated Virtual Worlds

2011 ◽  
pp. 469-481
Author(s):  
Jeremy O. Turner ◽  
Janet McCracken ◽  
Jim Bizzocchi
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
User Generated Content ◽  
Close Analysis ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Participant Observer

This chapter explores the epistemological, and ethical boundaries of the application of a participant-observer methodology for analyzing avatar design in user-generated virtual worlds. We describe why Second Life was selected as the preferred platform for studying the fundamental design properties of avatars in a situated manner. We will situate the specific case study within the broader context of ethnographic qualitative research methodologies, particularly focusing on what it means to live – and role-play - within the context that one is studying, or to facilitate prolonged engagement in order to have the research results accepted as trustworthy or credible (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). This chapter describes a case study where researchers can extract methods and techniques for studying “in-world” workshops and focus groups. Our speculations and research questions drawn from a close analysis of this case study will illuminate the possible limitations of applying similar hybrid iterations of participation-observation tactics and translations of disciplinary frameworks into the study of user-generated content for future virtual world communities. Finally, we will review the broader epistemological and ethical issues related to the role of the participant-observation researcher in the study of virtual worlds.

Second Life

2013 ◽  
pp. 204-218
Author(s):  
Yvonne Masters ◽  
Sue Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Teaching And Learning Environment

An increasing number of educational institutions are trialling the use of virtual worlds as teaching and learning environments, particularly for distance education students. In 2009 the authors have begun a research project to explore the efficacy of one such virtual world, Second Life, as a viable adjunct to other online learning experiences. However, it is now recognised that most academics have no experience of teaching in a virtual world. An integral aspect of our research is to examine whether a novice user of Second Life could quickly learn to teach effectively with this tool. The teaching experience is outlined from two points of view: the novice and the expert. The emergent themes are discussed and conclusions are made regarding the efficacy of Second Life as a teaching and learning environment for distance education students and the level of support that might be needed to assist other novices to teach in-world.

Second Language Teaching in Virtual Worlds

2011 ◽  
pp. 412-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Frias ◽  
Ricardo N. Fernandes ◽  
Ricardo Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Learning Contexts ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Language Context

This project is a proposal for a case study that aims to describe and understand communicative and pedagogical processes involved in Second Life® (SL™) in a context of second language learning, by modelling in-world lessons of Portuguese as a second language for ERASMUS students1 arriving in Portugal. The purpose is to provide examples of situated e-learning driven activities and perceive how an immersive context stimulates learning by involving students in a virtual reality situation, where real life language context situations are provoked and where ‘not possible in real life’ learning routines happen. This will allow experiencing the advantages of this platform compared to physical life teaching and learning contexts, through the inherent characteristics of this medium, such as the synchronous and simultaneous use of voice and text.

STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION TO SPEAK IN A GROUP DISCUSSION

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fajar Maulana ◽  
Ikhsanudin Ikhsanudin ◽  
Luwandi Suhartono
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Education ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Class A ◽  
Qualitative Survey ◽  
Teaching And Learning Environment ◽  
Integrative Motivation ◽  
Academic Year

This research was done to know the factors’ influencing students’ motivation to speak in a group discussion. This research is qualitative survey, in which the subjects are the Third-Semester Students of English Education Study Program of Tanjungpura University in Academic Year 2018/2019. The subjects of this research were 25 students in class A. The data were collected through observation and survey. Based on the data the students are motivated enough in speaking class and the motivation are relatively high across the students but most of the students faced several speaking problems such as afraid of making mistakes, lack of confidence, and lack of motivation. In summary, the factors that influenced the students’ motivation to speak in a group discussion are the students' interest to the materials of learning, the students’ interest to the culture of the target language, and lastly the reinforced that the students receive inside/outside the teaching and learning process. All of the factors are related to types of motivation, such as, intrinsic, extrinsic, instrumental, and integrative motivation. The writer claimed that knowing and understand sorts of motivation is essential with the intention of making a better teaching and learning environment

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.

More than just Logging In

2013 ◽  
pp. 149-160
Author(s):  
Kae Novak ◽  
Chris Luchs ◽  
Beth Davies-Stofka
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Content Delivery ◽  
Immersive Learning ◽  
Delivery Vehicles

This case study chronicles co-curricular activities held in the virtual world Second Life. The event activities included standard content delivery vehicles and those involving movement and presence. Several international content experts were featured and allowed students to meet and discuss ideas on a common ground with these experts. When developing these events, the researchers wondered, could an immersive learning environment be provide a deeper level of engagement? Was it possible to have students do more than just logging in? During the events, the students discovered a whole new way of learning. Chief among their discoveries was the realization that in these virtual world educational events, students, scholars, and faculty can all be mentors as well as learners. In virtual worlds, the expert-on-a-dais model of teaching is rapidly replaced by a matrix of discussion, collaboration, and movement that quickly generates a pool of ideas and knowledge.

Virtual World Classrooms

2014 ◽  
pp. 233-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Martin Meggs ◽  
Sharon Kibbe ◽  
Annette Greer
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Educational Value ◽  
Traditional Course ◽  
Laboratory Component

This chapter provides a comprehensive case study to demonstrate the longitudinal development of online pedagogy for higher education through a lens of interior design. The chapter presents constructivist theory as a guiding pedagogical framework for the creation of learning environments within Second Life (SL) virtual reality. Details of the rigorous process of incorporation of SL, as an enhancement to a traditional course with a laboratory component, is presented to validate the integrity of the scholarship of teaching and learning undertaken in the exemplar case study. The concluding components of the chapter review the iterative process of course outcome evaluation compared to course and accreditation standards to further demonstrate the educational value of virtual reality as an environment for learning.

Applied Areas of Three Dimensional Virtual Worlds in Learning and Teaching

2019 ◽  
pp. 172-192
Author(s):  
Reza Ghanbarzadeh ◽  
Amir Hossein Ghapanchi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Three Dimensional Virtual Worlds (3DVW) have been substantially adopted in educational and pedagogical fields worldwide. The current study conducted a systematic literature review of the published research relevant to the application of 3DVWs in higher education. A literature search was performed in eight high-ranking databases, and following scrutiny according to inclusion criteria, 164 papers were selected for review. The systematic literature review process was summarized, reviews undertaken by the authors, and results about the applicability of 3DVWs in higher education were extracted. A wide variety of application areas for the 3DVWs in higher education were found, and were classified into five main categories. Various 3DVW platforms and virtual environments used for educational goals were also identified. The results revealed Second Life as the most popular 3DVW platform in higher education. This study also found that by using 3DVW technology a wide range of virtual environments and virtual tools have been designed and applied in teaching and learning for higher education.

Using the Interaction-Combinations Integration Model to Explore Real-Life Learning in User-Created Virtual Worlds

2011 ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Antonacci ◽  
Nellie Modaress ◽  
Edward Lee Lamoureux ◽  
David Thomas ◽  
Timothy Allen
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Integration Model

User-created virtual worlds are emerging technologies with rapidly growing acceptance in education. Of the various reported educational uses of these virtual worlds, the focus of this chapter is on virtual worlds for constructivist learning activities, because this use has application to many real-life courses and has the potential to transform teaching and learning. To assist educators with recognizing and understanding virtual world learning activities, Antonacci & Modaress (2005, 2008) developed the Interaction-Combinations Integration model. However, this model has not been studied in actual virtual-world learning practice. Using a case study method, this chapter examines the usefulness of this model to organize and describe actual virtual world learning activities, provides additional learning activity examples, and describes what was needed to implement and conduct these learning activities.

Teaching and Learning Abstract Concepts by Means of Social Virtual Worlds

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Griol ◽  
Zoraida Callejas
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Resources ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Educational Activities ◽  
Virtual Spaces ◽  
3D Objects ◽  
The World

Social Virtual Worlds are increasingly being used in education, as their flexibility can be exploited in order to create heterogeneous groups from all over the world who can collaborate synchronously in different virtual spaces. In this paper, the authors describe the potential of virtual worlds as an educative tool to teach and learn abstract concepts by means of programmable 3D objects. They describe the main experiences carried out recently in the application of these technologies in transnational educational activities that combine the Moodle learning resources and programmable 3D objects in the Second Life virtual world.

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