Virtual Spaces for Real Learning Albert L. Ingram, Ph.D. Stephanie Oprandi Kent State University

Why Design Spaces Systematically?

When you have the ability to create any environment for learning that you want, should you recreate what you already have?

When you have the ability to create any environment for learning that you want, should you recreate what you already have?

Approaching the design of virtual spaces Ad hoc? Whatever seems to work now Systematic Creativity within constraints Architecture is a creative endeavor but still uses systematic processes and existing knowledge to shape buildings to meet needs

Ad hoc?

Whatever seems to work now

Systematic

Creativity within constraints

Architecture is a creative endeavor but still uses systematic processes and existing knowledge to shape buildings to meet needs

Principles Oblinger: space as a change agent Change teaching by changing spaces “ Built Pedagogy” Monehan, cited by Chism

Oblinger: space as a change agent

Change teaching by changing spaces

“ Built Pedagogy” Monehan, cited by Chism

What is the Pedagogy?

Where does the space come from? Goals of instruction Instructional strategies should shape the space, not the other way around Constraints of the world, e.g. SL Number of prims Size Time

Goals of instruction

Instructional strategies should shape the space, not the other way around

Constraints of the world, e.g. SL

Number of prims

Size

Time

Two Approaches Create Immersive Environment Provide experiences that are difficult to get elsewhere Realism is often paramount Create flexible learning spaces Pr omote interaction/collaboration among students Promote engagement with content

Create Immersive Environment

Provide experiences that are difficult to get elsewhere

Realism is often paramount

Create flexible learning spaces

Pr omote interaction/collaboration among students

Promote engagement with content

Immersive Environments History: Recreate historical sites (Virtual Williamsburg?) Nursing/Medicine: Work in a hospital Art History: 3D renderings of famous paintings Environmental Science: Simulate natural disasters

History: Recreate historical sites (Virtual Williamsburg?)

Nursing/Medicine: Work in a hospital

Art History: 3D renderings of famous paintings

Environmental Science: Simulate natural disasters

More…. English: Recreate imagined worlds Hospitality Management: Hotel Sciences: Laboratories

English: Recreate imagined worlds

Hospitality Management: Hotel

Sciences: Laboratories

Or… Create flexible “classroom” spaces to support more abstract student activities

Create flexible “classroom” spaces to support more abstract student activities

Spaces to Support Teaching From Chism: Flexibility Comfort Sensory stimulation Technology support Decenteredness

From Chism:

Flexibility

Comfort

Sensory stimulation

Technology support

Decenteredness

Design Space to Support Teaching Presentation spaces Who is presenting Encouraging interaction and participation Collaboration spaces Resources Comfort Interactions

Presentation spaces

Who is presenting

Encouraging interaction and participation

Collaboration spaces

Resources

Comfort

Interactions

Informal spaces Explore Collaborate Interact

Explore

Collaborate

Interact

Where is this?

Some Suggestions Create a complete world People need reasons to go there besides meeting for class Find resources, announcements, discussions, people Informal spaces are important People meet and work between formal spaces

Create a complete world

People need reasons to go there besides meeting for class

Find resources, announcements, discussions, people

Informal spaces are important

People meet and work between formal spaces

Effective educational virtual spaces Flexibility and ease of building Programming/scripting to make the environment responsive. Environment should be able to simulate what will happen (labs, etc)

Flexibility and ease of building

Programming/scripting to make the environment responsive.

Environment should be able to simulate what will happen (labs, etc)

Effective educational virtual spaces Links to information of any kind Documents Videos (e.g. YouTube) Wiki Blogs And all those other ones….

Links to information of any kind

Documents

Videos (e.g. YouTube)

Wiki

Blogs

And all those other ones….

Effective educational virtual spaces Communications Text chat Audio Video? Synchronous/asynchronous

Communications

Text chat

Audio

Video?

Synchronous/asynchronous

Effective educational virtual spaces Document sharing Document co-editing Manipulate objects

Document sharing

Document co-editing

Manipulate objects

Some References Franz, G. , von der Heyde, M., & Bulthoff, H. H. (2005). An empirical approach to the experience of architectural space in virtual relity—exploring relations between features and affective appraisals of rectangular indoor spaces. Automation in Construction , 14 , 165-172. Kenney, D. R., Dumont, R., & Kenney, G. (2005). Mission and place: Strengthening learning and community through campus design . Westport, CN: Praeger. Niemeyer, D. (2003). Hard facts on smart classroom design: Ideas, guidelines, and layouts. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.) (2006). Learning spaces. Washington, D.C.: Educause.

Franz, G. , von der Heyde, M., & Bulthoff, H. H. (2005). An empirical approach to the experience of architectural space in virtual relity—exploring relations between features and affective appraisals of rectangular indoor spaces. Automation in Construction , 14 , 165-172.

Kenney, D. R., Dumont, R., & Kenney, G. (2005). Mission and place: Strengthening learning and community through campus design . Westport, CN: Praeger.

Niemeyer, D. (2003). Hard facts on smart classroom design: Ideas, guidelines, and layouts. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.) (2006). Learning spaces. Washington, D.C.: Educause.