Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches

Virtual worlds are an area of growing interest in many sectors, including higher education. While Web-based tools have existed for years to help deliver course content, these tools have not traditionally provided means for creation of community with the embedded communication and collaboration necessary for successful teaching and learning. Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches examines successful implementation of social constructivist instructional design tenets in 3D virtual immersive environments. Authors share best practices, challenges, and advice to those working to utilize virtual environments in higher education and other venues. Readers will gain both a research background in the use of virtual worlds for teaching and learning and practical advice as they begin to design and implement these environments.

Dr. Amelia Cheney is an Assistant Professor in and Program Director for the Instructional Technology program at Appalachian State University, where she has taught in 3D virtual environments since 2006. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Cheney had more than thirteen years experience in K-12 education, including serving as a high school teacher and a Chief Technology Officer for two school districts. She is a Board member of the Applied Research in Virtual Worlds (ARVEL), SIG of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), as well as Past-President and current Board member of the North Carolina Technology in Education Society (NCTIES). Dr. Cheney also serves on the Technology Committee of the Virtual World Consortium, and as a steering committee member for the International Journal of Web-Based Communities. Her current research is focused on constructivist teaching and learning in virtual environments, particularly issues of community, presence, and the building of relationships.

Dr. Robert Sanders is an associate professor and program director for the library science program at Appalachian State University. He also currently serves as the assistant chair of the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Prior to ASU, Dr. Sanders worked professionally as a teacher, media specialist, administrator, and as an instructional technology consultant. He is the past president of both the Ohio Distance Learning Association and the League of Worlds, an international virtual world collaborative. He is also a Fellow with the Virtual World Consortium, a collaborative research and development effort between Appalachian State University and Clemson University focused on 3D immersive learning environments for teaching and learning. Dr. Sanders' current research is focused on the use of Action Learning pedagogy in these 3D virtual worlds and the symbiotic relationship that exists in the convergence of these two phenomena as it relates to our understanding of teaching and learning in these virtual environments.