Virtual Situated Learning Environments

2010 ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Jones
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Human Services ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Secure Environment ◽  
Learning Principles

This chapter explores how ICT can be used to create environments in which students engage in workrelated learning opportunities through virtual situated learning environments. These VSLEs are created digitally as real-life learning opportunities. Situating students of human services in these environments presents the opportunity for learning opportunities that are authentic, apply adult learning principles and are learner centred. They enable participants to develop inter-professional skills by presenting scenarios that require inter-professional engagement in a safe and secure environment in which participants can experiment with different approaches to problem-solutions. They provide a safe-fail environment in which students can experiment with different approaches and see the consequences of not working appropriately without negatively affecting real clients. The chapter presents an example of a VSLE used to engage students in a related field of employment relations and outlines an example of how a virtual community centre may be used to develop employability skills for students in human services.

Virtual Learning Environments

2011 ◽  
pp. 62-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitzi P. Trahan ◽  
Nan B. Adams ◽  
Susan Dupre
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Learning Curve ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Virtual Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Virtual Learning Environments ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Steep Learning Curve ◽  
Barriers To Access

The growing experimentation with multi-user virtual environments for educational purposes demands rigorous examination of all aspects of these digital worlds. While their use appears to enhance and expand traditional distance learning, educators acknowledge that barriers to access remain, including a steep learning curve for orienting users to MUVE navigation and functionality. The application of Adams’s Knowledge Development Model for Virtual Learning Environments provides a framework for the design of in-world learning opportunities and activities, many of which tend to mirror pedagogical best-practices in Real Life (RL).

Increasing Adult Learner Engagement in E-learning Courses through Learner Case Writing

2010 ◽  
pp. 971-984
Author(s):  
Rosemary B. Closson ◽  
Carmeda Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Adult Learner ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Learner Engagement ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Case Writing ◽  
Learning Principles

This chapter proposes learner case writing (LCW) as a case-based method that has been successfully used to increase adult learner engagement in an online asynchronous environment. LCW is a response to the expressed need identified in the literature for increased incorporation of experiential activities in e-learning environments. A critical discussion of the theoretical base and learning principles that underpin this method (such as experiential learning, action learning, authentic learning, and situated learning) is also provided. Phases of the LCW process are outlined and key challenges the authors encountered while using the LCW process online are presented. The authors describe their responses to mitigate the challenges experienced and make general recommendations for online learning using experiential approaches. This chapter concludes with final thoughts on future trends.

Virtual Learning Environments

2012 ◽  
pp. 200-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitzi P. Trahan ◽  
Nan B. Adams ◽  
Susan Dupre
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Learning Curve ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Virtual Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Virtual Learning Environments ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Steep Learning Curve ◽  
Barriers To Access

The growing experimentation with multi-user virtual environments for educational purposes demands rigorous examination of all aspects of these digital worlds. While their use appears to enhance and expand traditional distance learning, educators acknowledge that barriers to access remain, including a steep learning curve for orienting users to MUVE navigation and functionality. The application of Adams’s Knowledge Development Model for Virtual Learning Environments provides a framework for the design of in-world learning opportunities and activities, many of which tend to mirror pedagogical best-practices in Real Life (RL).

Authentic Learning on the Web

2011 ◽  
pp. 26-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Herrington ◽  
Ron Oliver ◽  
Anthony Herrington
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Authentic Learning ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Models Of Teaching ◽  
Realistic Problem ◽  
The Web

In response to the growing influence of constructivism as a philosophical approach to learning, and a wide range of research studies investigating alternative models of teaching and learning over the last decade, many universities have experimented with the development of ‘authentic’ learning environments. How successful they have been in this quest is a subject of some debate. For instance, Gayeski (2005) has argued: Many of today’s programs are no better than those from the early days of interactive video—in fact, they are worse. We still see too many textbooks or PowerPoint slides ‘ported’ over to the Web with a few links or silly questions added to make them ‘interactive’ (p. 98) The challenge instructors face is to align university teaching and learning more substantially with the way learning is achieved in real-life settings, and to base instructional methods on recent theories of learning which reflect this shift, such as situated learning (Brown, Collins, & Duguid, 1989; Collins, Brown, & Newman, 1989; McLellan, 1996; Choi & Hannafin, 1995). Authentic approaches, as well as requiring students to apply theory, also allow students to create theories by starting with a realistic problem, and then developing their own knowledge within the practical situations in which the need for learning was created. This chapter proposes nine critical characteristics of learning as a framework for the design of more authentic learning environments on the Web. The elements are based on situated learning theory and other compatible research, with particular emphasis on computer and Web-based applications.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing content-related PD facilitator expertise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Prediger ◽  
Bettina Roesken-Winter ◽  
Rebekka Stahnke ◽  
Birte Pöhler
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Mathematics Teaching ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Situational Demands ◽  
Classroom Level

AbstractStudies of facilitators of professional development (PD) for mathematics teachers have been increasing in order to improve their preparation for conducting PD. However, specifications of what facilitators should learn often lack a conceptualization that captures facilitators’ expertise for different PD content. In this article, we provide a framework for facilitator expertise that is in line with current conceptualizations but makes explicit the content-related aspects of such expertise. The framework for content-related facilitator expertise combines cognitive and situated perspectives and allows unpacking different components at the PD level and the classroom level. Using two illustrative cases of different PD content (probability education in primary school and language-responsive mathematics teaching in secondary school), we exemplify how the framework can help to analyze facilitators’ practices in content-related ways in a descriptive mode. This analysis reveals valuable insights that support designers of facilitator preparation programs to specify what facilitators should learn in a prescriptive mode. We particularly emphasize the importance of working on content-related aspects, unpacking the PD content goals into the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge elements on the classroom level and developing facilitators’ pedagogical content knowledge on the PD level (PCK-PD), which includes curricular knowledge, as well as knowledge about teachers’ typical thinking about a specific PD content. Situated learning opportunities in facilitator preparation programs can support facilitators to activate these knowledge elements for managing typical situational demands in PD.

Immersive Learning Environments at Scale: Constraints and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1165-1169
Author(s):  
Robert F. Siegle ◽  
Rod D. Roscoe ◽  
Noah L. Schroeder ◽  
Scotty D. Craig
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Immersive Learning ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Theoretical Paper

The expansion of online education into massive open online courses (MOOCs) and equipment have created a unique opportunity for delivering immersive learning experiences at scale. However, although the inclusivity of the MOOC ecosystem can be commended, many online courses lack key benefits associated with traditional classroom environments: immersive, engaging, and team-driven learning opportunities. Immersive learning environments (ILEs) address these educational gaps but has not been able to operate at the broad scale that MOOCs offer. Importantly, ILEs address opportunities missing from MOOC systems, they add unique learning opportunities that would also be missing in a traditional classroom. The inclusion of this virtual reality technology is pivotal topic for educational research. This theoretical paper will briefly define immersive learning environments and the potential benefits of incorporating immersive learning environments into scalable educational systems. We will also consider developers constraints on creating these online ecosystem and suggested strategies for overcoming them.

scholarly journals The Value of Relevant, Project-Based Learning to Youth Development

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Schwartz ◽  
Darcy Tessman ◽  
Daniel McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Projects ◽  
Relevant Community

Project Based Learning models present authentic learning opportunities with real-life situations, enabling students to set their own learning goals and forge their own relationships (Barab, et al., 2001). The autonomy inherent in this model allows youth to bring their skills and experiences to real situations and to be seen as valued community members. This article describes a project-based learning model involving “externs,” who developed and implemented sustainability projects in their communities. Externs worked with Cooperative Extension professionals on locally relevant community projects during the summer of 2011 in three Arizona counties. The project based learning experience had a positive impact on the lives of our three externs.

scholarly journals Effects of Digital Storytelling in Mathematics Instruction on Academic Achievement and Examination of Teacher-Student Opinions on the Process

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
İlknur Özpinar ◽  
Semirhan Gökçe ◽  
Arzu Aydoğan Yenmez
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Digital Storytelling ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Student Opinions ◽  
Digital Stories

Storytelling is a popular instrument used in every domain of natural and social interaction for human communication and commonly used in classrooms to enrich the learning experience. With the use of technological tools in every field of our daily lives, its use in educational environments has become inevitable and in parallel with the development of these tools, digital stories have started to replace traditional storytelling. Digital storytelling offers advantages such as providing diverse applications in the classroom environment, personalizing the learning experience, being interesting, helping difficult subjects explained, addressing real-life-related situations, supporting active learning, allowing for the creation of costless learning environments, and improving motivation and achievement. Materializing a course such as mathematics in which abstract concepts are given, helping students use the learned information with stories and associate it with daily life, developing activities to make learning environments enjoyable when learning and applying by taking students away from the traditional understanding of instruction are considered some of the most important duties of teachers in this process. In accordance with the related considerations, this study aims to investigate the effects of mathematics courses instructed by association with digital storytelling on 8th-grade students’ academic achievements and the teacher and student opinions on the application process. The study using the quasi-experimental method was conducted with 58 students. The Achievement Test, written opinion forms to receive student opinions and interview form for teacher were prepared by the researchers to this end. At the end of the study, although no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in the posttest and the delayed-posttest in terms of academic achievement score averages of the students in the experimental group were found to be higher than the score averages of the students in the control group. The results achieved in this study show that digital storytelling is a powerful instrument to create more interesting and enjoyable learning environments which facilitate association with daily life, allow for effective learning and participation. It was also stated that the students and the mathematics teacher had positive opinions on use of digital stories in the courses and its contribution to the courses.

scholarly journals Weaving a Personal Web: Using online technologies to create customized, connected, and dynamic learning environments

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica McElvaney ◽  
Zane Berge
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Dynamic Learning ◽  
Social Bookmarking ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Web Technologies ◽  
Online Technologies ◽  
Learning Principles ◽  
The Relationship

This paper explores how personal web technologies (PWTs) can be used by learners and the relationship between PWTs and connectivist learning principles. Descriptions and applications of several technologies including social bookmarking tools, personal publishing platforms, and aggregators are also included. With these tools, individuals can create and manage personal learning environments (PLEs) and personal learning networks (PLNs), which have the potential to become powerful resources for academic, professional, and personal development. Résumé : Cet article explore les diverses façons dont les technologies Web personnelles peuvent être utilisées par les apprenants, ainsi que la relation entre ces technologies et les principes d’apprentissage connectivistes. Y sont également présentées les descriptions et les applications de plusieurs technologies, y compris les outils sociaux de mise en signet, les plateformes de publication personnelles et les agrégateurs. Ainsi outillées, les personnes peuvent créer et gérer des environnements d’apprentissage personnels (EAP) et des réseaux d’apprentissage personnels (RAP) qui recèlent le potentiel de devenir de puissantes ressources de perfectionnement sur les plans universitaire, professionnel et personnel.

scholarly journals Logbook: a Tool for Learning Inside and Outside the Language Class

EL LE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Menegale
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Language Class

One of the aims of language learning is that learners can apply outside the classroom what they learn at school and, vice versa, can use in classroom what comes from their experience in ‘real’ life, that is, outside school walls. However, as nearly a century of experimental research on the field has proved, knowledge transfer does not occur spontaneously, on the contrary, this capacity seems to be particularly complicated and difficult to encourage. It is therefore crucial to help learners gain awareness and make use of existing language learning opportunities as well as the learning strategies they can employ so to increase their capacity to make connections. Among the different tools that can be used to enhance both language competence and metacognitive awareness, logbook is considered one of the most handy and purposeful. This paper will try to explain what a logbook is and how it can be used with students with the intention to promote their language learning both in and out of the classroom.

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