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Effectiveness of collaborative learning with 3 D virtual worlds
Author(s) -
Cho Young Hoan,
Lim Kenneth Y. T.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of educational technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.79
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1467-8535
pISSN - 0007-1013
DOI - 10.1111/bjet.12356
Subject(s) - affordance , coursework , metaverse , collaborative learning , educational technology , mathematics education , collaborative writing , computer science , instructional simulation , cooperative learning , instructional design , computer supported collaborative learning , teaching method , psychology , virtual reality , human–computer interaction
Virtual worlds have affordances to enhance collaborative learning in authentic contexts. Despite the potential of collaborative learning with a virtual world, few studies investigated whether it is more effective in student achievements than teacher‐directed instruction. This study investigated the effectiveness of collaborative problem solving and collaborative observation using virtual worlds. Secondary school students ( n = 101) participated in the study as part of their coursework in three geography classes. This study found that collaborative problem solving and observation were more effective in facilitating and maintaining intrinsic motivation than teacher‐directed instruction. Students in the collaborative observation condition outperformed those in the other conditions when it came to knowledge gains. Lastly, collaborative problem solving and observation were more beneficial for group performance than teacher‐directed instruction. These results were discussed in regard to the impacts of interactive learning and the cognitive load of using virtual worlds.