Teacher perceptions of learning affordances of multi-user virtual environments

  • Authors:

  • Vimani Gamage;Alexei Tretiakov;Barbara Crump

  • Affiliations:

  • School of Management, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand;School of Management, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand;School of Management, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand

  • Venue:
  • Computers & Education
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

While the affordances of multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) for teaching and learning are a subject of numerous experience reports, there is little research on educators' perceptions of various MUVE affordances claimed in the literature. We investigate the educators' perceptions of claimed MUVE affordances for learning by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 educators (11 with experience in using MUVEs for teaching, and 11 with no MUVE experience). We analyse the resulting data by using the constant comparative method. Findings indicate that the perceptions of MUVE affordances for learning by educators with no experience in using MUVEs are similar to the perceptions of early adopters, and are overall positive, suggesting a positive outlook for eventual wider MUVE adoption. The rich descriptions of teacher beliefs and perceptions given in the article will be of interest to education managers and teachers considering MUVE adoption.