ERIC Number: EJ852104
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0735-6331
EISSN: N/A
A Look inside a MUVE Design Process: Blending Instructional Design and Game Principles to Target Writing Skills
Warren, Scott J.; Stein, Richard A.; Dondlinger, Mary Jo; Barab, Sasha A.
Journal of Educational Computing Research, v40 n3 p295-321 2009
The number of games, simulations, and multi-user virtual environments designed to promote learning, engagement with subject matter, or intended to contextualize learning has been steadily increasing over the past decade. While the use of these digital designs in educational settings has begun to show promise for improving learning, motivation, and engagement as noted in studies of MIT Media Lab's "Supercharged", Harvard University's "River City", and Indiana University's "Quest Atlantis", research reports have been unable to capture the design processes required to develop these complex instructional spaces. With the intention of illuminating one particular design process that met with some success, this article details the process of design and development that supported the creation of the language arts-focused "Anytown" multi-user virtual environment. The objective is to illustrate the complexity of taking an interactive digital learning environment from the planning phases through to the 3-D development of the environmental interactions and provide an example of how designers may match the media affordances present in games with instructional goals and principles that are intended to guide learning. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Instructional Design, Virtual Classrooms, Writing Skills, Educational Games, Educational Principles, Writing Instruction, Grade 4, Constructivism (Learning), Learner Engagement, Guidelines, Educational Technology, Computer Assisted Instruction, Electronic Learning, Web Based Instruction, Computer Software, Computer Simulation, Simulated Environment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Grade 4
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A