Networked Virtual Environments for Collaborative Learning

In this invited talk, I examine how the technologies of networking and desktop virtual reality can be used to enhance the quality of student learning. I use the C–VISions (Collaborative Virtual Interactive Simulations) system, developed at the National University of Singapore, as an exemplar system to help the audience appreciate the unique advantages that the technology affords for student learning as well as to highlight issues related to the design of networked virtual environments for collaborative learning. I begin by tracing the evolution of networked virtual environments and related work oriented toward supporting learning. I examine the “promise” of virtual networked environments for learning. I then outline the pedagogical basis of our work on the C–VISions collaborative virtual environment and briefly describe the C–VISions system. Next, I attempt to critically evaluate the C–VISions learning environment with respect to Brna’s hypercube (Brna, 1998). Finally, I share some initial findings drawn from our first pilot study using C–VISions, and I conclude by pointing to future work.