ERIC Number: EJ883490
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1881
EISSN: N/A
Situating Pedagogies, Positions and Practices in Immersive Virtual Worlds
Savin-Baden, Maggi; Gourlay, Lesley; Tombs, Cathy; Steils, Nicole; Tombs, Gemma; Mawer, Matt
Educational Research, v52 n2 p123-133 Jun 2010
Background: The literature on immersive virtual worlds and e-learning to date largely indicates that technology has led the pedagogy. Although rationales for implementing e-learning have included flexibility of provision and supporting diversity, none of these recommendations has helped to provide strong pedagogical location. Furthermore, there is little, if any, exploration of the kinds of e-learning spaces that are commonly adopted in higher education or the rationale for their use. Purpose: This article explores the current arguments for the use of immersive virtual worlds in higher education and examines the impact the use of such environments is having upon teachers and teaching. Design and methods: A comprehensive literature search and review was undertaken by a team of researchers in order to explore issues of pedagogy, staff role and digital literacies, and explore perspectives that might inform the higher education community about views on the use of immersive virtual worlds. Conclusions: It is suggested that an exploration of digital literacies and the use of pedagogically informed models may offer higher education some purchase on the complex issues and implications of using such immersive virtual worlds for learning. (Contains 1 note.)
Descriptors: Higher Education, Staff Role, College Instruction, Literature Reviews, Instructional Effectiveness, Teacher Role, Vignettes, Allied Health Occupations Education, Program Evaluation, Program Development, Barriers, Foreign Countries, Computer Simulation, Simulated Environment, Role Playing, Electronic Learning, Distance Education, Computer Mediated Communication, Synchronous Communication, Virtual Classrooms, Online Courses, Internet, Computer System Design, Computer Software, Instructional Design, Computer Literacy, Computer Assisted Instruction, Educational Environment, Teaching Methods, College Students, College Faculty, Case Studies, Influence of Technology, Integrated Learning Systems, Multimedia Materials, Problem Based Learning
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A