Engaging Group E-Learning in Virtual Worlds

Author(s)

Katherine Franceschi, University of Puerto RicoFollow
Ronald M. Lee, Florida International UniversityFollow
Stelios H. Zanakis, Florida International University
David Hinds, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Management Information Systems

ISSN

1557-928X

Publication Date

2009

Abstract/Excerpt

E-learning has seen tremendous growth in recent years. More and more, university courses are now available online to a potentially global audience. However, a significant shortcoming of e-learning technologies has been poor support for group-oriented learning. We believe that virtual worlds offer a potential solution. Unlike videoconferencing (for instance), virtual worlds provide a shared visual space for students to meet and interact (via avatars). Not only do students share the quasi-realism of a 3D environment where participants can see and hear one another, they also have the capability to manipulate artifacts together. These factors provide a strong sense of group presence, which leads to engaging group learning interactions.

DOI

10.2753/MIS0742-1222260104

Volume

26

Issue

1-2

First Page

73

Last Page

100

NSUWorks Citation

Franceschi, Katherine; Lee, Ronald M.; Zanakis, Stelios H.; and Hinds, David, "Engaging Group E-Learning in Virtual Worlds" (2009). HCBE Faculty Articles. 1041.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcbe_facarticles/1041