Virtual Worlds and Education Wietse van Bruggen

Outline What are virtual worlds Virtual worlds vs. Games Key characteristics Value for education

What are virtual worlds

Virtual worlds vs. Games

Key characteristics

Value for education

3 D Virtual Worlds Second Life Active Worlds

Second Life

Active Worlds

Virtual Worlds Avatars, visual presentation of a person Be who you want to be

Avatars, visual presentation of a person

Be who you want to be

Virtual Worlds Everything in these virtual worlds is created by its own users

Everything in these virtual worlds is created by its own users

Meet/communicate/play form identities recreate the real world Or create something new

Virtual worlds vs. Games Games have predefined goals Goals are embedded in the structure of the game Virtual worlds have no predefined goals Users have to set their own goals

Games have predefined goals

Goals are embedded in the structure of the game

Virtual worlds have no predefined goals

Users have to set their own goals

Virtual worlds are.. Multimedia Combination of media Create/consume media Simulations

Multimedia

Combination of media

Create/consume media

Simulations

Virtual worlds are.. Time and place has its own time has its own sense of place distance learning internationalisation

Time and place

has its own time

has its own sense of place

distance learning

internationalisation

Virtual worlds are.. Communication Synchronous Asynchronous Collaboration Internationalisation

Communication

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Collaboration

Internationalisation

Virtual worlds are.. Identity experimentation take on different roles

Identity

experimentation

take on different roles

Virtual worlds are.. flexible adapt to learning goals learning styles Manipulate existing objects

flexible

adapt to learning goals

learning styles

Manipulate existing objects

So... How does that translate to education?

How does that translate to education?

2007 Pilot projects Support with training Let schools come up with their own ideas Evaluate their findings

2007

Pilot projects

Support with training

Let schools come up with their own ideas

Evaluate their findings

Kunstklas/Scienceklas wereld De Ideale School Portfolio Ostrea Hotel Virtueel Taaldorp Techniek op de CSV Miss Hair on Avatar verkiezing Expose your Talent Deventer in 2025 De Burgh in Brugge

Some conclusions Very complex Very time-consuming recreating school buildings But: Definitely educational potential Student motivation

Very complex

Very time-consuming

recreating school buildings

But:

Definitely educational potential

Student motivation

2008 Wider variety of didactic scenarios More variation in teaching styles Develop with VW experts, teachers, game designers etc. Let teachers give their opinion through short films

Wider variety of didactic scenarios

More variation in teaching styles

Develop with VW experts, teachers, game designers etc.

Let teachers give their opinion through short films

Scenarios Science classroom Virtual history lecture Virtual Body Showroom Language space Virtual company Virtual city Virtual cultures Complexity

Science classroom

Virtual history lecture

Virtual Body

Showroom

Language space

Virtual company

Virtual city

Virtual cultures

Highest rated not too complex Added value

Lowest rated Simple but not a lot of added value Complex, not efficiënt

questions ? [email_address]

questions ?

[email_address]