Higher education in virtual worlds: the use of Second Life and OpenSim for educational practices
| dc.contributor.author | Christopoulos, Athanasios | en_GB |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-15T10:59:02Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2013-05-15T10:59:02Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2013-03 | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Christopoulos, A. (2013) 'Higher education in virtual worlds: the use of Second Life and OpenSim for educational practices'. Masters thesis. University of Bedfordshire. | en_GB |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10547/291117 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Research | en_GB |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores the features of Second Life and OpenSim that affect the choice of academics who are planning to use a virtual world in order to meet the learning needs of their students. For the conduct of this study, what was taken into account is a preexisting framework which proposes the evaluation of virtual worlds against four dimensions: their contexts, the immersion encountered within each, their cost, and their persistence. The research aimed to validate, enhance or alter the framework on which it is based, and also highlight the similarities and differences between Second Life and OpenSim worlds, either internally or externally hosted ones, against these four dimensions. For the fulfillment of this objective, academics were interviewed and students were asked to fill in some questionnaires. However, the findings suggested that none of these options is “the best”. On the contrary, the answer to the question “Which is the ideal virtual world for the conduct of educational projects?” is “It depends on each educator’s needs”. Nevertheless, this thesis provides clear guidance to academics who face the decision to use virtual worlds for educational purposes. | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | University of Bedfordshire | en_GB |
| dc.subject | X342 Academic studies in Higher Education | en_GB |
| dc.subject | computers in education | en_GB |
| dc.subject | Second Life | en_GB |
| dc.subject | OpenSim | en_GB |
| dc.subject | virtual worlds | en_GB |
| dc.title | Higher education in virtual worlds: the use of Second Life and OpenSim for educational practices | en |
| dc.type | Thesis or dissertation | en |
| dc.type.qualificationname | PhD | en_GB |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters Degree | en |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Bedfordshire | en_GB |
| html.description.abstract | This thesis explores the features of Second Life and OpenSim that affect the choice of academics who are planning to use a virtual world in order to meet the learning needs of their students. For the conduct of this study, what was taken into account is a preexisting framework which proposes the evaluation of virtual worlds against four dimensions: their contexts, the immersion encountered within each, their cost, and their persistence. The research aimed to validate, enhance or alter the framework on which it is based, and also highlight the similarities and differences between Second Life and OpenSim worlds, either internally or externally hosted ones, against these four dimensions. For the fulfillment of this objective, academics were interviewed and students were asked to fill in some questionnaires. However, the findings suggested that none of these options is “the best”. On the contrary, the answer to the question “Which is the ideal virtual world for the conduct of educational projects?” is “It depends on each educator’s needs”. Nevertheless, this thesis provides clear guidance to academics who face the decision to use virtual worlds for educational purposes. |
