Exploring New Learning Spaces

Appalachian State University & Purdue University were awarded the 2006 Campus Technology Innovators award for their creation of a 3D virtual space using Active Worlds technology.  Appalachian state describes their students as “a mid-career educator who is not familiar with immersive learning environments, has only a basic understanding of traditional web-based learning systems, and has access to rather modest technology”. 

Online instruction may have been an obvious choice to serve these geographically dispersed students, but ASU had specific objectives to meet before it would call the program a success. The stated challenge was to “create an online learning environment that: maintains fidelity to our conceptual framework; supports our social constructivist teaching methods; allows for serendipitous, non-structured interactions between students, instructors, and others; and supports participants’ sense of presence/ absence of others.” Their solution is AET Zone, a 3D, immersive world for learning that serves as the social, curricular, and pedagogical hub for all content and most interactions in the Instructional Technology program.

ASU has since opended the AET Zone to the wider educational community, allowing researchers, students and educators from all over the globe to use this environment.  These visitors are encouraged to plan meeting and build spaces of their own.  What is interesting is that the article describes the integration of discussion boards, voice-over-IP and a “group-oriented custom course management system built in-house”.  I cannot wait to check it out!

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