Learning  by  doing  and  by  experience  in  a  virtual  world  

Demo  session  by  Esko  Lius  

2. Collaborative learning

1. Virtual learning path

Virtual  learning  path    vs.    Textbook  reading  

European Literary History virtual pathway

Compared learning in two secondary high schools

Students could choose: •  virtual pathway •  ordinary textbook

Virtual  learning  path    vs.    Textbook  reading  

Medieval epoch built as a tavern.

Enlightenment built as a Crusoe island.

Blending  classroom,    the  web  &  VW  

Ordinary web-based

learning platform backchannel

Wandering

the virtual pathway

alone and/or in pairs Contact teaching session

•  basic SL knowledge

•  map, assignments and

SL-guide as printouts

Virtual assignments compensated

for a certain laborious chore

Blending  classroom,    the  web  &  VW  

Learning  outcome  

course  final  exam   5  weeks  later  

SL                          Tb   SL                          Tb  

Exam  results,  two  secondary  high  schools  in  Finland,  term  2010  

Learning  outcome  

course  final  exam   5  weeks  later  

SL                          Tb   SL                          Tb  

Exam  results,  two  secondary  high  schools  in  Finland,  term  2010  

Learning  outcome  

course  final  exam   5  weeks  later  

SL                          Tb   SL                          Tb  

Exam  results,  two  secondary  high  schools  in  Finland,  term  2010  

”The teacher got to know the

students in many levels

here in the virtual world.”

”The students remembered

the learning matter well

- even after a long time.”

Literature teacher Heidi Heikkilä, Vantaa, Finland

CollaboraBve  learning:  Colour-­‐changing  hats  

ApplicaBon  of  the  jigsaw  learning  method  

(iniFally  E.  Aronson  1971)    

1.  hometeams    

Avatars  form  

a  home  group  

2.  specialist  teams    

Avatars  form  groups  

for  tackling  a  part  of  

the  learning  task  

3.  hometeams    

Avatars  return  to  

home  group  and  

share  knowledge  

CollaboraBve  learning  works  

”This virtual application

of jigsaw method

worked inworld great,

at least as well as

in the real classroom.

Embedding Etherpad &c.

was a bonus.”

”It was wise to train first

with an easy text.

Now as we manage

the method, we can

enter real study subject.”

Applied Uni teachers in further training

in Second Life

Presentation online: tiny.cc/iED-LIUS

Thinking hats freely available iSL!

Thank  you!  Esko  Lius  -­‐  iSL  Esko  Levee  

esko.lius@omnia.fi