Expanding a VLE-Based Integration Framework Supporting Education in Second Life

Until recently, the use of graphically rich virtual environments was limited to enthusiasts who could afford suitable hardware. However, personal computers are increasingly equipped with powerful graphics hardware as standard, allowing game-like technologies such as Second Life to be adopted by a broad range of users. This has enabled a widespread interest in the use of virtual worlds in education. The research presented in this chapter advances the work which has already been done by the SLOODLE project to provide a general support framework for formal education in virtual worlds. The area of attention is on providing an integration with web-based VLEs (Virtual Learning Environments), which are already in use by many education institutions. The methodology used focuses on issues of software usability, with a view to providing a groundwork for further pedagogical research.

[1]  Daniel Livingstone,et al.  Putting a Second Life “metaverse” skin on learning management systems , 2006 .

[2]  Nicola Savino,et al.  An environment for didactics for first level university courses based on Eclipse technology , 2008 .

[3]  Daniel Livingstone,et al.  Collaborative Web-Browsing in a Virtual World , 2009, 2009 Conference in Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications.

[4]  S. Freitas.  Learning in immersive worlds: A review of game-based learning , 2006 .

[5]  John Stephenson,et al.  Teaching & learning online : new pedagogies for new technologies , 2001 .

[6]  Garry Falloon,et al.  Using avatars and virtual environments in learning: What do they have to offer? , 2010, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[7]  Julia Gillen,et al.  Researching Learning in Virtual Worlds , 2010, Human-Computer Interaction Series.

[8]  George Ghinea,et al.  Software development methods and usability: Perspectives from a survey in the software industry in Norway , 2008, Interact. Comput..

[9]  Jakob Nielsen,et al.  Usability inspection methods , 1994, CHI 95 Conference Companion.

[10]  Gilly Salmon,et al.  The future for (second) life and learning , 2009, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[11]  Dana Chisnell,et al.  Handbook of Usability Testing , 2009 .

[12]  Harry Hochheiser,et al.  Research Methods for Human-Computer Interaction , 2008 .

[13]  Paola Forcheri,et al.  Hybrid Learning Experiences with a Collaborative Open Source Environment , 2009, ICHL.

[14]  Tufan Adiguzel,et al.  A working successor of learning management systems: SLOODLE , 2010 .

[15]  Timo Jokela,et al.  People, Organizations, and Processes: An Inquiry into the Adoption of User-Centered Design in Industry , 2006, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[16]  Evelyn McLellan,et al.  Rethinking University Teaching, 2nd Edition: Diana Laurillard, RoutledgeFalmer, 2002, 288pp, price £19.99, ISBN 0-41525-679-8 , 2003, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[17]  James Kariuki Njenga,et al.  The myths about e-learning in higher education , 2010, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[18]  Barney Dalgarno,et al.  What are the learning affordances of 3-D virtual environments? , 2010, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[19]  Wayne D. Gray,et al.  Damaged Merchandise? A Review of Experiments That Compare Usability Evaluation Methods , 1998, Hum. Comput. Interact..

[20]  Paul Hollins,et al.  Collaborative Virtual Gaming Worlds in Higher Education , 2008 .

[21]  Maggie McPherson,et al.  Critical issues for e-learning delivery: what may seem obvious is not always put into practice , 2008, J. Comput. Assist. Learn..

[22]  Richard Walker,et al.  A longitudinal perspective regarding the use of VLEs by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom , 2006, Interact. Learn. Environ..

[23]  Fu Lee Wang,et al.  Hybrid Learning and Education, First International Conference, ICHL 2008, Hong Kong, China, August 13-15, 2008, Proceedings , 2008, ICHL.

[24]  Richard Bartle,et al.  Designing Virtual Worlds , 2003 .

[25]  Matthew W. Ragas,et al.  Assessing the Value of Virtual Worlds for Post- Secondary Instructors: A Survey of Innovators, Early Adopters and the Early Majority in Second Life , 2009 .

[26]  Jim Flood,et al.  Read all about it: online learning facing 80% attrition rates , 2002 .

[27]  Charalampos Z. Patrikakis,et al.  Combining Immersive Virtual Worlds and Virtual Learning Environments into an Integrated System for Hosting and Supporting Virtual Conferences , 2009, e-Democracy.

[28]  Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos,et al.  Collaborative Learning in OpenSim by Utilizing SLoodle , 2010, 2010 Sixth Advanced International Conference on Telecommunications.

[29]  Daniel Livingstone,et al.  Multi-Modal Learning and Assessment in Second Life with quizHUD , 2009, 2009 Conference in Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications.

[30]  Walter Bender,et al.  The Impact of Increased Awareness While Face-to-Face , 2007, Hum. Comput. Interact..

[31]  Daniel Livingstone,et al.  Integrating Web-Based and 3D Learning Environments: Second Life Meets Moodle , 2008 .

[32]  Charalampos Z. Patrikakis,et al.  Next Generation Society. Technological and Legal Issues , 2010 .

[33]  Diana Laurillard,et al.  Rethinking University Teaching 2nd Edition: A conversational framework for the effective use of learning technologies , 2002 .

[34]  Daniel Livingstone,et al.  Mixed-Methods and Mixed-Worlds: Engaging Globally Distributed User Groups for Extended Evaluation and Studies , 2010, Researching Learning in Virtual Worlds.

[35]  Rachel Gollub.  Second life and education , 2007, ACM Crossroads.

[36]  Kar-Hai Chu,et al.  Using Second Life to demonstrate a concept automobile heads up display (A-HUD) , 2008, Mobile HCI.

[37]  Gregory D. Abowd,et al.  Human-computer interaction (2nd ed.) , 1998 .

[38]  Michael McVey,et al.  Observations of expert communicators in immersive virtual worlds: implications for synchronous discussion , 2008 .

[39]  Stacey Greenwell,et al.  7 Things You Should Know About the Modern Learning Commons , 2011 .

[40]  Shailey Minocha,et al.  Collaborative Learning in a Wiki Environment: Experiences from a software engineering course , 2007, New Rev. Hypermedia Multim..