The virtual world is a new field in computer science. It does not matter if we want or we do not want, usage of a virtual world is becoming pervasive. Virtual classes are becoming more popular, and in the future, most classes will be virtual classes. Like the other aspect of humans’ lives, education is taking advantage of technology. Education is going to use a virtual world to make education convenient for people. People will have access to virtual classes anytime from anywhere.
If education will not have another choice except virtual classes or when virtual classes have more advantages of traditional classes. We need to be ready and start shifting to using those virtual tools. It is very important to know how it can help to have active students in a virtual world. And know if students in a virtual class are as educated as traditional classroom students or even in a higher level.
One issue about virtual classrooms is; how can we increase student’s participation for a team work in virtual classes. People have deferent characteristics, deferent needs, deferent thoughts, and etc in real world. It’s too hard to get few people to do a team work. Even it is worth in virtual world, because in virtual world, they get to getter form all around the world. In addition of stated differences; they have deferent culture, deferent language, and deferent religion. These make challenging more difficult.
Traditional courses are reading a textbook then remembering the facts. In online classes, the course information is experience by students, and then conclusions will be drawn about it to store, process and learn it. Students incorporate the concepts of the course and use these concepts to complete their assignment (case study, projects, role play, labs, discussions, simulations, interactive games, and if any other learning techniques).
In order to motivate students to participate in course activities more, the first step that courses need to take is shifting students to learners. Getting students evolve in real world solutions and using instructors as mentors and coaches to guide students by providing feedback, synchronous and asynchronous interaction. Information will explore by students and then it will be structured to form analogies and will be applied.
Teamwork will be encouraged and students will play the collaboration role. Having a strong online collaboration skills and communication will cause professional benefits. The requirements for a computer supported cooperative project are; understanding of objectives, guidance, good communication, feedback.
In traditional courses, content are providing by subject matter and presentation medium. Also course designers focus on presentation medium not contents as a resource. Focusing on application and transformation of information instead of presentation of facts in another step to provide an active team work.
Virtual classes are challenging to take advantage of technology in order to exchange information and ideas between instructors and their students by using as many of the senses as possible.
References:
Anil, Aggarwal (2000). Web-based learning and teaching technologies: opportunities and challenges. Chapter II, “Opportunities in Web-Based Teaching: The Future of Education. Page 17, IDEA Group publishing, Retrieved from: http://books.google.com/books?id=iv7zGhspyz4C&lpg=PP1&ots=M8Fbni5KxD&dq=web%20based%20learning%20tools&lr=&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=web%20based%20learning%20tools&f=false
Anil, Aggarwal (2003). Web-based education: leaning from experience. Part I, WBE: An Overview, Current and Future. Chapter I. A Guide to eCourse Management: The Stakeholders’ Perspectives. Publication: Hershey, PA Idea Group Publishing, Retrieved from: netlibrary.com.
Calongne, Cynthia. M. (2002). Promoting Team Interaction in the Online Classroom. The Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges. Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges. Rocky Mountain Conference. October 18-19, 2002. Denver, Colorado. Volume 18, Number 1, pp. 218-227. Retrieved from http://library.colorado-tech.com/techreportalpha.htm
Calongne, Cynthia. M. (2007). Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?. E-Learning for the Next Generation: Looking Ahead, 2007. TELECOOP Conference.April 11-13, 2007, Estes Park, Colorado. Retrieved from http://www.telecoop.org/conference/presentations07.htm
Kirkman, B.L., Rosen, B., Gibson, C.B., Tesluk, P.E. & McPherson, S.O. (2002). Five challenges to virtual team success. Lessons from Sabre, Inc”. Academy of Management Executive.
Marguerita McVay, Lynch, & Maggie McVay, Lynch (2002). The online educator: a guide to creating the virtual classroom. Chapter 3; Building support system, Page 50. Published by RoutledgeFalmer, USA. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QRROoau84FoC&oi=fnd&pg=PP12&dq=virtual+classroom&ots=luSx-4ehAV&sig=6hWtOOYkUWDrLI-u8ykOtw5Oaco#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Moore, M. G., Anderson, W. G. (2003). Handbook of Distance Education. Part VI, The Economics of Distance Education. Cost-Effectiveness of Online Education. Publication: Mahwah, N.J., & Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Retrieved from: netlibrary.com
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