Evaluating a Virtual Collaborative Environment for Interactive Distance Teaching and Learning: A Case Study

This paper presents a case study of experimenting an interactive collaborative environment for distance teaching and learning activities. It begins with reviewing the existing multiple-users collaborative environment including the Open Wonderland platform, and then outlines the requirements of using a collaborative environment to assist distance teaching and learning, and how these requirements could be met with the Open Wonderland platform. We investigated the system in our local network settings, with a particular emphasis on embedding pedagogy content into of the system. We found that such environment could allow students to have full support throughout their studies with a tutor to guide, advise and offer direct comprehensive guidance. Finally, we summarized the results from the formative and summative evaluations, and presented the lessons learned that can guide future usage of this immersive education space within Higher Education.