Learning in Virtual Worlds

Sue Gregory is associate professor and chair ofresearch in the School of Education at the University of New England,Australia. She lectures in ICT education, conducts research on the useof virtual worlds for learning and teaching, and leads the Australiaand New Zealand Virtual Worlds Working Group.Mark J.W. Lee, adjunct senior lecturer with theSchool of Education at Charles Sturt University and immediate pasteditor-in-chief of MERLOT's Journal of Online Learning andTeaching, has broad interests in learning sciences and technology,with a current focus on creative and playful pedagogies that transcendmultiple spaces, temporalities, and/or modalities.Barney Dalgarno, Professor/Co-Director of theuImagine Digital Learning Innovation Laboratory at Charles SturtUniversity and co-lead editor of the Australasian Journal ofEducational Technology, has received national and internationalrecognition for his innovative research, teaching, and learning designusing leading-edge technologies.Belinda Tynan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning andTeaching) at The Open University in the United Kingdom, has heldmanagement positions at higher education institutions in four countriesacross three continents, and over the years has attracted considerablegrant funding as well as been responsible for multiple, large-scaleinnovation projects.Contributors: Paul M. Baker, Francesca Bertacchini,Leanne Cameron, Chris Campbell, Helen S. Farley, Laura Fedeli, SueGregory, Christopher Hardy, Bob Heller, Vicki Knox, Shailey Minocha,Jessica Pater, Margarita Pérez García, Mike Procter, Torsten Reiners,Paul Resta, Corbin Rose, Miri Shonfeld, Ann Smith, Layla F. Tabatabaie,Assunta Tavernise, Robert L. Todd, Steven Warburton, and Stephany F.Wilkes.

• List of Abbreviations viiList of Tables and Figures ixAcknowledgements xiiiForeword xvIntroduction xix PART ONE: HUMAN – COMPUTER INTERACTION1 Navigation and Wayfinding in Learning Spaces in 3D Virtual Worlds/ Shailey Minocha and Christopher Hardy2 Communication Modality, Learning, and Second Life / StephanyF. Wilkes3 Virtual Body: Implications for Identity, Interaction, andDidactics / Laura Fedeli4 (In)Accessible Learning in Virtual Worlds / Robert L. Todd,Jessica Pater, and Paul M. A. Baker5 Benefits of Second Life in the Ageing Population / AnnSmith6 The Reality of Authentic Learning in Virtual Worlds / Helen S.Farley PART TWO • ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY7 Conversational Agents in Second Life: Freudbot / Bob Heller,Mike Procter, and Corbin Rose8 Virtual Bots: Their Influence on Virtual Worlds, and How They CanIncrease Interactivity and Immersion through VirtualPREX / TorstenReiners, Sue Gregory, and Vicki Knox PART THREE • LEARNING DESIGN ANDIMPLEMENTATION9 Analyzing Teaching Practices in Second Life: A Design Taxonomy forthe Implementation of Workshops in Virtual Worlds / StevenWarburton and Margarita Pérez García10 Netconnect Virtual Worlds: Results of a Learning Experience /Francesca Bertacchini and Assunta Tavernise11 Scaffolding Learning Through the Use of Virtual Worlds /Chris Campbell and Leanne Cameron12 Challenges and Strategies in Designing Cross-national Learning:Team Projects in Virtual Worlds / Paul Resta and MiriShonfeld13 Introduction to Laws Relevant to Virtual Worlds in HigherEducation / Layla F. Tabatabaie Conclusion 295List of Contributors 307Index 315