3D Virtual Environment Impact on Course Delivery

Jones, Greg; Warren, Scott

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14967 Copy

Description

Title

3D Virtual Environment Impact on Course Delivery

Author(s)

• Jones, Greg
• Warren, Scott

Issue Date

2010-02-03

Keyword(s)

• 3D Virtual Environments
• Comunicated Media Communications
• Distributed Learning

Abstract

This session will present and discuss the use of a 3D virtual online learning environment being used since 2002 to deliver and support courses in the Dept of Learning Technologies, College of Information, University of North Texas. The use of the 3D system provides significant increases to student satisfaction, course discussions, and increased rapport among students and with the instructor. This session will present research and discuss how the custom 3D system UNT is using provides more appropriate tools than commercially available environments for supporting course delivery. Research conducted between 2002 and 2007 examined user discourse, message flow, and exchange frequency in Web-only courses, blended courses, and then the same types of courses extended with a 3D online learning environment. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact that a 3D online learning environment has on discourse with Web-only and blended courses. Findings from the study suggest that the addition of a 3D online learning environment to both Web-only and blended courses demonstrates the ability to more rapidly create rapport among users, which translates into accelerated discourse that occurs earlier in and sustains itself longer and throughout the semester.

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14967

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