7 reasons for teaching in virtual worlds
DESCRIPTION
The last decade has seen virtual worlds transform from novelty to powerful tool. In education, learning environments have been created with this technology in subjects as diverse as genetics, midwifery, sculpture, language learning and occupational psychology. In addition, in the US, major corporations have used virtual worlds for staff training and collaboration, as have the US army. This talk will describe six generic ways in which virtual worlds can offer a better learning environment than the physical world, with examples from the speaker’s experience. The talk will conclude by discussing the seventh reason for teaching in a virtual world – the future. In particular, the speaker will share his vision of a development path for virtual worlds, and show how the six existing reasons will be amplified as technology and teaching practice moves forward. [Note, some images have links to relevant YouTube videos]TRANSCRIPT
14th March 2014
Seven reasons forTeaching in aVirtual World
Dr. Paul D Rudman
paulrudman
SWIFT – Second World Interactive Future Teaching
3 years to Sep 2012Funded by the HEA
SWIFT – Second World Interactive Future Teaching
Virtual Worlds
SWIFT – First task: user training
SWIFT – Phase 1: Supporting students’ first lab class
Total: 46 1st year Biological Sciences studentsTutor-led tour of virtual labGroup work to answer quiz
SWIFT – Phase 2: Connecting theory with practice
24 First year Medical studentsWorking individually in the VWConducting genetic screenings for Huntington’s disease Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Anaemia
SWIFT – Phase 3: Problem-based learning
35 2nd year Biological Sciences students used the VW as part of their courseNodes represent decisions, physical paths represent actionsCritical elements conducted in (virtual) lab
Post-SWIFT – iSciencePart of iScience curriculum; 12 students each yearAllows greater lab experience than otherwise possible
Excellent Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
37.5
41.7
16.7
4.2
33.3
35.9
19.3
11.5
SWIFT %Cohort %
Overall tutor assessment (phase 2)
“It looked very realistic; I didn’t think it would be quite that realistic, to be honest”
“When I first started labs in September I was really scared of going into the labs cause we did no [lab] work in biology in A-level ... and if we had of had this induction it would have really helped”
“Very good experience: theory to practice”
“Helps to picture what’s actually going on”
“Animations linked theory to machine”
Student comments
reasons for teaching in Virtual Worlds
7
Reason 1 – Simulation
Simulation
Role Play
US Army training
Reason 3 –Personal tutor
Reason 4 – Experience
Reason 5 – Abstract Tangible
Abstract Tangible
Reason 6 – Artistic medium
Artistic medium
Reasons• Simulation• Role Play• Personal Tutor• Experience• Abstract as Tangible• Artistic medium
Seven reasons for teaching in Virtual Worlds
Guidelines• Treat as real – the memory is
real• Best pedagogies are experiential,
constructivist-based• Avoid gimmicks; get advice from
experienced virtual world designers, build only what’s needed
Reasons Not to teach in a Virtual World
1) Because “It’s a game” – it may look like a game, but it’s not
Reasons Not to teach in a Virtual World
1) Because “It’s a game” – it may look like a game, but it’s not
2) During the “Gee Wizz!” phase
Reasons Not to teach in a Virtual World
1) Because “It’s a game” – it may look like a game, but it’s not
2) During the “Gee Wizz!” phase
3) “I’m used to rows of desks and Powerpoint, so I’ll do that here”
The Future
The future – often described first in Science Fiction
Star Trek Communicator
Mobile phoneVirtual worlds
Arthur C Clarke’s writings
Geostationary satellites
The future
WearableDesktop Mobile
Assisted World:
Google’s Star Map app
TV subtitles
Virtual world: Virtual Worlds (eg Second Life)
Removing barriers (eg Mobile VWs)
Phy
sica
l
Vir
tual
Constraining Invisible
Disney’s Infinity Action! app
Augmented world:
Dinosaurs Alive book
Increased Immersion &Mixed Reality,eg Google Glass,Oculus Rift,Avegant Glyph,Epson Moverio
The future
WearableDesktop Mobile
Assisted World:
Google’s Star Map app
TV subtitles
Virtual world: Virtual Worlds (eg Second Life)
Removing barriers (eg Mobile VWs)
Phy
sica
l
Vir
tual
Constraining Invisible
Disney’s Infinity Action! app
Augmented world:
Dinosaurs Alive book
Increased Immersion &Mixed Reality,eg Google Glass,Oculus Rift,Avegant Glyph,Epson Moverio
The future
WearableDesktop Mobile
Assisted World:
Google’s Star Map app
TV subtitles
Virtual world: Virtual Worlds (eg Second Life)
Removing barriers (eg Mobile VWs)
Phy
sica
l
Vir
tual
Constraining Invisible
Disney’s Infinity Action! app
Augmented world:
Dinosaurs Alive book
Increased Immersion &Mixed Reality,eg Google Glass,Oculus Rift,Avegant Glyph,Epson Moverio
The future
WearableDesktop Mobile
Assisted World:
Google’s Star Map app
TV subtitles
Virtual world: Virtual Worlds (eg Second Life)
Removing barriers (eg Mobile VWs)
Phy
sica
l
Vir
tual
Constraining Invisible
Disney’s Infinity Action! app
Augmented world:
Dinosaurs Alive book
Increased Immersion &Mixed Reality,eg Google Glass,Oculus Rift,Avegant Glyph,Epson Moverio
The future: Increased Immersion & Mixed Reality
Milgram P., Kishino A.F. (1994) Taxonomy of Mixed Reality Visual Displays, IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems. pp. 1321–1329
Newspapers: 1702
Radio: 1930
Television: 1946
Internet: 1994
Virtual Worlds: 2003
...
New media: Addition, not replacement
Reason 7
Virtual Worlds are open for teaching now;
Virtual Worlds have an exciting future
Seven reasons for teaching in Virtual Worlds
14th March 2014
Special thanks to:
Dr. Paul D Rudman
paulrudman
• The Higher Education Academy for funding SWIFT• Profs Gilly Salmon & Annette Cashmore for
creating and leading the SWIFT project• Dr Suzanne Lavelle, SWIFT teaching Fellow• Dr Sarah Gretton, iScience lecturer• Staff at the University of Leicester for supporting
and helping with the project• SWIFT participants, for their participation, enthusiasm,
feedback and permission to use media• Our commercial partners, Daden Ltd and Gemixin Ltd• Shuttle launch image ©NASA. Avegant Glyph, EPSON Moverio &
Snow Crash cover images from marketing materials
14th March 2014
Seven reasons forTeaching in aVirtual World
Dr. Paul D Rudman
paulrudman