Virtual Worlds: A New Environment for Constructionist Learning
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PDFItem Type:
Journal ArticleDate:
2019Access:
openAccessCitation:
Carina Girvan, Timothy Savage, Virtual Worlds: A New Environment for Constructionist Learning, Computers in Human Behavior, 99, 2019, 396 - 414Download Item:
VirtualWorldsGirvanSavage.pdf (Accepted for publication (author's copy) - Peer Reviewed) 5.886Mb
Abstract:
Virtual worlds have the potential to provide a new environment in which to engage learners in constructionist
activities. However, they were not designed for education and have features and affordances which are not found
in traditional constructionist environments. These may limit the pedagogy in action and/or provide new opportunities with which to transform constructionist pedagogy in practice, but to date there has been no research
on these issues. To address this, we explore constructionism in action in the virtual world Second Life. This is the
first study to examine the theoretical alignment of pedagogy and technology in practice. An exploratory case
study of a purpose-built constructionist learning experience was conducted. The experience was designed based
on the theoretical alignment of pedagogy and technology and implemented with 24 postgraduate students over
four weeks. Open non-directive interviews, chat logs, constructed artefacts, learners’ written reflections and
observations were collected and analyzed using the constant comparative approach. The findings provide insights into how learners engage in meaningful artefact construction, highlight the role of avatars and draw
attention to the importance of the designed space. New opportunities for distributed constructionism are
identified. We conclude that virtual worlds are effective environments for constructionist learning.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/tsavagehttp://people.tcd.ie/cgirvan
Description:
PUBLISHED
Author: Savage, Timothy; Girvan, Carina
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Computers in Human Behavior99
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Constructionism, Virtual worlds, Pedagogy, Constructionist theory, Avatars, Learning, Turtle, Scratch, 3DSubject (TCD):
Information technology in education , Virtual WorldsDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.017Licences: