University of Amsterdam

SCO-Kohnstamm Instituut

Project Coordinator
Inge Molenaar
imolenaar@educ.uva.nl

World Name: Degas
 

Project Description

We will use this world in a research project, which will last 3 years. New developments in information and communication technology make it possible to support new ways of teaching. Programs made to develop three-dimensional virtual worlds, like Active Worlds, are relatively new tools realizing its entrance into the educatinoal field. The prupose of this project is to shed light on the value of this 3D virtual world for collaborative learning. This will be done by identifying the unique aspects of a 3D virtual world: the interface, the communication, and the construction. These three aspects are combined in three different activities which support collaborative learning. The expected effects each activity will have on the learning process will be discussed. At the CSCL 2002:foundatino for a CSCL community" conference our preliminary results will be presented. Our research will focus on the added value of 3D virtual worlds for collaborative learning. The research will take place in Dutch High schools (at least 2) who will build a virtual museum inspired by the artist Degas. The students will start with a collaborative discovered assignment in the world, which will help them learn more about Active Worlds, orientation, navigation and construction in this world. Then they will build their part of the museum in groups of 4 students. To conclude the assignment, they will show their museums to other groups and explain the content of their room as well as the process by which it was constructed.