Conducting situated learning in a collaborative virtual environment

In the view of situated learning theory, knowledge and understanding is fundamentally a product of a learning situation. Learning is situated and takes place by means of legitimate peripheral participation within the context of a community of practice. Based on the theory of situated learning, we develop conceptual and technical approaches to build a web-based collaborative 3D car-driving simulation environment that requires only low computing and development resources. Rather instructing individuals on a formal, structured, intensive and programmed base, this simulation environment supports members of virtual communities of practice to perform informal, unstructured, spontaneous, collaborative, situated learning.