The virtual world seems to have many surprises. During my
readings this week I found that using 3D environments to enhance online
web-based courses is not new. Others have been doing this and with success. I
have so many ideas running through my head on how we could use this in our
online courses where I work. I am hoping that I can help to influence some
movement in this direction. Adding a 3D virtual world to our existing course
will bring the community of students to a whole new level. Not only will they
be able to build on their existing knowledge but they will be able to help
fellow classmates or students from other courses or they can receive help. Students
can choose to work collaboratively. I have seen students who are given the
opportunity to work with one another synchronously rather than do all their
course work asynchronously take that opportunity. Students like any other
population are social by nature. I have seen students seek out classmates to do
assignments together. The fun part is if you know something you can share it
with others and them with you. It’s an exciting way to learn.
The 3D element gives working in an online course a reality
that I have not experienced before. I can see my classmates (even if they are
an avatar), I can hear them. I can collaborate with them. I am able to form
relationships with them. It is so great to be able to share my learning with my
classmates. I had no idea how much I missed this. I have taken online courses
for the past 6 years I got accustomed to the way we collaborated through
discussion boards to do group work. Now in the 3D environment I am able to work
with my classmates and talk to them about any assignment. I think this is a
great way to take a course.
During this week I have had some exciting moments in Jokaydia
as well. Jokaydia was down last weekend so I felt I was a little behind on my
assignments. I finally got back in and found I had forgotten almost everything
I had learned. But with the help of classmates I was soon back on my way of
building and exploring. We also have a great synchronous meeting this week that
including a guest. We went to his world and we all learned from him. Now today
I have found I could not get in to our home island and was automatically
teleport to a nearby land. I ended up in Ajax and took a snapshot. It definitely
looks like I’ll be doing some more exploring.
I think your experience illustrates what's valuable about virtual worlds as "places to go". Even though you couldn't get where you were going you were able to explore and a learn some things. If you couldn't access an LMS page, for example, that would be the end of the activity until it came back online. You might then go to some other website, but nowadays the entire web allows us to waste time in accustomed ways. The constraint of being in a particular virtual world, together with the freedom to explore that world is where the value is. It's as if the museum you were planning on going to was closed, but there were others in the neighborhood.
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