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Bishopj at 13:11, 5 August 2010

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=Real Learning in Virtual Worlds: An assessment of two approaches to content delivery with respect to learning outcomes=

Author: Dianne Bishop

A Minor Thesis
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree of Master of Information Technology (Minor Thesis)

Faculty of IT
Monash University
December 2008

==Abstract==

This thesis comparatively explores two methods of delivering lecture based teaching material in the virtual world Second Life by comparing and contrasting tested outcomes of Bloom’s ‘remember’ and ‘understand’ cognitive processes, and analysing qualitative feedback on participants experiences.

The study provides an extensive literature review covering the history of research and invention in the Virtual Worlds commencing from gestation in fictional writings to realisation in the current genre of massively connected online virtual worlds, and finally summarises the specific research into application of virtual worlds in education, and outlines alternative models for measuring learning outcomes.

From this basis the thesis documents an experimental framework, virtual world teaching laboratory and learning management system built for the purpose of delivering lecture material in a controlled, experimental manner and an experiment conducted for the purposes of comparing the outcomes of two alternative delivery systems. Using otherwise identical content a “classic” 2D lecture and the same lecture augmented by 3D models and simulations was delivered to randomly selected participants and their achievement scores for Bloom’s cognitive processes ‘remember’ and ‘understand’ graded and analysed.

The research found that there is no significant difference between either ‘remember’ or ‘understand’ cognitive processes grades for the 2D and 3D groups, although there was a non-statistically significant advantage in remembering demonstrated by the 3D group at the extreme lower and upper deciles.

The thesis concludes by identifying a number of opportunities for further research.

==Table of Contents==

*[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|CHAPTER 1: Overview]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|1.1 Background to the Study.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|1.2 Research Questions.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|1.3 Overview of Study.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|1.4 Significance and Limitations.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 1: Overview|1.5 Structure of Thesis.]]

*[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|CHAPTER 2: Literature Review]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.1 Introduction.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.2 Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.2.1 What is a Virtual World?.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.2.2 Recognising a Virtual World by its Features.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.3 The Avatar–The Nature of a Participant’s Projection into a Virtual World.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.4 A Taxonomy of Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.4.1 Introduction.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.4.2 A Taxon for Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.4.3 Applied Taxonomies.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.5 What’s in a Name? – Virtual Worlds versus Virtual Reality.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.6 Dimensioning Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.6.1 The Degree of Virtuality.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.6.2 The Degree of Immersion and Presence.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.7 Influences on Virtual Worlds from Art and Literature.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.7.1 Introduction.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.7.2 Virtual Worlds of the Arts.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.7.3 Virtual Worlds of Fiction and Fantasy.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8 The History of Computational Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.1 Introduction.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.2 Hardware Based User Interfaces and Virtual Reality Systems.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.3 Early Graphical Computer Games.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.4 Text Based Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.5 Graphical Virtual Worlds.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.8.6 Simulation and Learning Systems.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.9 Virtual Worlds for Education.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.9.1 Architecture Considerations.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.9.2 Education Applications in Virtual Worlds.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.10 Learning & Instructional Design Theory.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.10.1 Introduction.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.10.2 Behaviourism and Cognitivism.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.10.3 Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.10.4 Bloom’s Taxonomy.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 2: Literature Review|2.11 Summary.]]

*[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|CHAPTER 3: Research Design]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.1 Introduction]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.2 Problem Statement and Research Hypothesis]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.3 Research Rationale]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.4 Research Method]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.4.1 Theoretical Assumptions]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.4.2 Research Study]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.5 Research Population]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.6 The Virtual Learning Environment]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.7 Learning Task Design]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.7.1 Subject Matter]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.7.2 Instruction Delivery]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.8 Instrumentation]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.8.1 Pre and Post Quiz]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.8.2 Survey: Learning Experience]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.8.3 Instrument Reliability]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9 Analysis Method]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9.1 Introduction]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9.2 Data Processing]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9.3 Software]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9.4 Quantitative Analysis Methods]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.9.5 Qualitative Analysis Methods]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 3: Research Design|3.10 Summary]]

*[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|CHAPTER 4: Results.]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.1 Introduction]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2 Quantitative Analysis Results: Achievement Scores]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2.1 Overview of Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2.2 Pre-Quiz Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2.3 Post-Quiz Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2.4 Hypotheses Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.2.5 Survey Results: Likert Scales]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.3 Qualitative Analysis Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.3.1 Introduction]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.3.2 Analysis Approach]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.3.3 Themes of the Open Survey Questions]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 4: Results.|4.4 Summary]]

*[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.1 Introduction]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.2 Quantitative Analysis]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.2.1 The Results of the Hypothesis]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.2.2 The Results of the Pre-Quiz]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.2.3 The Results of the Post-Quiz]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.2.4 Likert Scale Analysis]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.3 Qualitative Analysis]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.3.1 Thematic Analysis Results]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.3.2 Qualitative Analysis of Thematic Results]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.4 Discussion of Results]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.5 Conclusion]]
**[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6 Opportunities for Further Research]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.1 Improving Instrument Reliability]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.2 Course versus Lecture]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.3 Introducing a Real and Robot Presenter to the Experience]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.4 Testing Other Bloom’s Cognitive Processes]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.5 Outcome Measurement Over Time]]
***[[Real Learning in Virtual Worlds - CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Conclusion|5.6.6 Comparison to Real-World Training]]

*[[VirtualWorldLearningReferences|Referencs]]
*[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Selected Appendices]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix A: Terminology]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix B: MMOG Analysis]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix I: Second Life Demographics]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix J: Pre-Quiz Score Results]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix K: Post-Quiz Score Results]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix L: Instrument Reliability Results]]
**[[Real Learining in Virtual World - Selected Appendices|Appendix M: Qualitative Analysis: A Sample of Participants Comments]]

==Full Appendices==

The full appendices to the original master's thesis on which Real Learing in Virtual Worlds articles are based include items such as pre and post question quizes, reproduction of building signage, and graphic heavy pages. This material is best examined in a downloadable. The full appendices A through M are avaliable here.

The content of the download is:

#'''Appendices.'''
*Appendix A: Terminology.
*Appendix B: MMOG Analysis.
*Appendix C: Welcome Room Information Content
*Appendix D: Instruction: Slide Presentation.
*Appendix E: Pre-Presentation Slide Show.
*Appendix F: Pre-Quiz.
*Appendix G: Post Quiz.
*Appendix H: Survey.
*Appendix I: Second Life Demographics.
*Appendix J: Pre-Quiz Score Results.
*Appendix K: Post-Quiz Score Results.
*Appendix L: Instrument Reliability Results.
*Appendix M: Qualitative Analysis: A Sample of Participants Comments.

[[Category:Learning In Virtual Worlds]]
[[Category:Book - Real Learning in Virtual Worlds]]

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Bishopj at 13:11, 5 August 2010