Virtual Education
(Note: This page is part of the VirtualChicago project.)
o What is Virtual Education?
The term "virtual education" refers to any learning process that takes place in virtual reality, or a virtual classroom. The location where the learning takes place is called "virtual" because it does not exist in reality. The Internet is the good medium for virtual classrooms because it allows students and educators from anywhere on the planet to interact. Since "virtual education" is a non-traditional form of education, students and educators should be prepared for different forms of learning. Consider the following situations where virtual education can take place:
A student from the United States connects to a virtual world and runs into a man living in China. The two hold a brief conversation about what life is like in their respective countries.
A biology teacher creates a virtual laboratory where students can conduct experiments that they would otherwise not be able to do because the equipment or reagants are too expensive. A chemistry teacher has his students use a virtual laboratory as a pre-lab so that they can understand the basics of the lab before they actually do it.
A student studying English as a Second Language uses an American text-based world so that she can learn new vocabulary and proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
A community college offers adults classes on becoming familiar with computers and the Internet. They use a virtual classroom to meet online from the comfort of their own homes.
A sociology graduate student researches virtual communities and how online communities of users compare to more traditional communities.
o Does Virtual Education Work?
Yes! Virtual education is as old as the Internet and has been academically studied. While the results of any education are difficult to prove, sufficient evidence exists that virtual education provides a fresh and fun way to supplement traditional education. Though virtual education cannot replace traditional education for many tasks, it may be better than traditional education when used appropriately. Check out these virtual education links!
The Changing Faces of Virtual Education from the Commonwealth of Learning
One of the conclusions of the authors of the 1999 report was that the development of virtual education was “more rhetorical than real!” Dr. Glen Farrell, study team leader and editor of both reports, says “This follow-up study concludes that, two years later, virtual education development is a lot more rhetorical, and a lot more real!”Virtual Education by Jessica Chalmers
Kids may be restless and bored in classrooms across America, but at a small, underfunded computer camp in Phoenix, Arizona, I saw something else. Call it a small miracle, brought about by the secular magic of new technology. Or see it as the product of research done by creative educators dedicated to harnessing the energy of the new in the service of traditional educational goals.
o Virtual Education & VirtualChicago
Here are some highlights of educational & research use concerning VirtualChicago:
Abstract: A Study of Dissociation on Text-Based Virtual Reality Systems by Boglarka Takacs
A Hungarian high school student gathered data from VirtualChicago citizens as part of a psychological survey. This survey was used to enter a national competition in order to gain university admittance. To read the abstract, click on the link above!COM 115-800: Internet Fundamentals at the College of Lake County
Students enrolled is the Internet Fundamentals class at CLC (in Illinois) have a class on virtual worlds. They spend this session connected to VirtualChicago as part of an interactive learning experience. VirtualChicago has been used for Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions since Fall 2001. One feature of this class is that it takes place entirely through the Internet, with email correspondence. For more information on this course, click on the link above!Eastern Illinois University Department of Speech Communication
Lab assistants at EIU's Communication Laboratory were required to spend a certain time period on a virtual world as part of their training. Several students used VirtualChicago for this purpose.Virtual Community Informatics: What We Know and What We Need to Know from the Proceedings of the 35th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2002)
Several international informatics researchers sought to define and categorize virtual communities. VirtualChicago was one of the virtual communities used and explicitly listed in this study. To read the full article, click on the link above!Please contact vcmuse@vchicago.org with ways you have used VirtualChicago for education or research!
o I am an educator or student. How can VirtualChicago help me?
One of VirtualChicago's primary goals is to support education. We love to see students and educators online! Not only are we open to a variety of ideas, but we will do whatever we can to assist you with a project. Please keep in mind that VirtualChicago is run by volunteers, so though the amount of help we can offer may vary at different times, there are never any fees or advertisements. Additionally, VirtualChicago was created by high school and college students, so it appeals to most to those age groups. However, we are proud to have almost every age group represented in our community. For more information, please email vcmuse@vchicago.org with your interests.