virtual worldsA REVIEW OF PEDAGOGICAL FOUNDATIONS

THE RESEARCH PROBLEMIs there really learning

going on in VIRTUAL WORLDS? •are VWs designed for

learning grounded in research and theory?

• if so, to what extent?

• if so, what theories are they grounded in?

THE Literature SEARCH

•EbscoHOST (ERIC, PsychInfo, Academic Search Premier) -103 articles

•EdITLib (Journals & Conference Proceedings) - 161 articles

• Interviews, emails - 4

•Search Parameters• “Virtual World”, “Learning Environment”, (pedagogyor theory or framework or “learning theory”), between 2000-2010

Reviewing Multivocal Literature• The problem: VW literature is all over the

place…case studies, reports, presentations, some empirical studies

• A wide range of literature can be a valuable source of information and insight, especially in situations like this

• Issues to be overcome: exclusion of data, selective use of information in documents, ambiguity in data collection and analysis procedures.

• Rigor: adherence to principles and procedures, methods and techniques that minimize bias and error in the collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting of data.

SOURCE: OGAWA & MALEN, 1991

Exploratory Case Study

SOURCE: OGAWA & MALEN, 1991

•Construct validity: establish clear definitions, accurate measures, and indicators of what is under study•Construct categories: identify “bins”, “partitions”•Chart relationships: establish connection between research questions & data components•Elicit themes and patterns (create a database)

Coding Criteria for Review• Research shows that four conditions must

exist for designs to be grounded in pedagogy:

• The design must be based in a defensible theoretical framework

• Methods must be consistent with the outcomes of research conducted (if “social constructivist”, then show those traits)

• Must be generalizable –can be applied more broadly than only to a specific setting or problem

• Validated iteratively through successive implementation

SOURCE: HANNAFIN, HANNAFIN, & LAND, 1997

Course: North-South Interdependence

Example: MURIAS projectHow well does this virtual world meet the conditions?

• The design must be based in a defensible theoretical framework

• Methods must be consistent with the outcomes of research conducted (if “social constructivist”, then show those traits)

• Must be generalizable –can be applied more broadly than only to a specific setting or problem

• Validated iteratively through successive implementation

References• Girvan, C., & Savage, T. (2010). Identifying an

appropriate pedagogy for virtual worlds: A communal constructivism case study. Computers & Education, 55(1), 342-349

• Hannafin, M., Hannafin, K., & Land, S. (1997). Grounded practice and the design of constructivist learning environments. ETR&D, 56(2), 161-27.

• Ogawa, B., & Malen, B. (1991). Towards rigor in reviews of multivocal literatures: Applying the exploratory case study method. Review of Educational Research, 61(3), 265-286.