Virtual Spaces Virtual Spaces for Real Learningfor Real Learning

Albert L. Ingram, Ph.D.Albert L. Ingram, Ph.D.Stephanie OprandiStephanie Oprandi

Kent State UniversityKent State University

Why Design Why Design Spaces Spaces

Systematically?Systematically?

When you have the When you have the ability to create any ability to create any

environment for environment for learning that you learning that you want, should you want, should you recreate what you recreate what you

already have?already have?

Approaching the Approaching the design of virtual design of virtual

spacesspacesAd hoc?Ad hoc?

Whatever seems to work nowWhatever seems to work now

SystematicSystematicCreativity within constraintsCreativity within constraints

Architecture is a creative endeavor Architecture is a creative endeavor but still uses systematic processes but still uses systematic processes and existing knowledge to shape and existing knowledge to shape buildings to meet needsbuildings to meet needs

PrinciplesPrinciples

Oblinger: space as a Oblinger: space as a change agentchange agent

Change teaching by Change teaching by changing spaceschanging spaces

““Built Pedagogy” Built Pedagogy” Monehan, Monehan, cited by Chismcited by Chism

What is the What is the Pedagogy?Pedagogy?

Where does the Where does the space come from?space come from?

Goals of instructionGoals of instruction

Instructional strategies should Instructional strategies should shape the space, not the other shape the space, not the other way aroundway around

Constraints of the world, e.g. SLConstraints of the world, e.g. SLNumber of primsNumber of prims

SizeSize

TimeTime

Two ApproachesTwo Approaches

Create Immersive Environment Create Immersive Environment Provide experiences that are difficult to Provide experiences that are difficult to get elsewhereget elsewhere

Realism is often paramountRealism is often paramount

Create flexible learning spacesCreate flexible learning spacesPrPromote interaction/collaboration omote interaction/collaboration among studentsamong students

Promote engagement with contentPromote engagement with content

Immersive Immersive EnvironmentsEnvironments

History: Recreate historical History: Recreate historical sites (Virtual Williamsburg?)sites (Virtual Williamsburg?)

Nursing/Medicine: Work in a Nursing/Medicine: Work in a hospitalhospital

Art History: 3D renderings of Art History: 3D renderings of famous paintingsfamous paintings

Environmental Science: Environmental Science: Simulate natural disastersSimulate natural disasters

More….More….

English: Recreate imagined English: Recreate imagined worldsworlds

Hospitality Management: Hospitality Management: HotelHotel

Sciences: LaboratoriesSciences: Laboratories

Or… Or…

Create flexible Create flexible “classroom” spaces to “classroom” spaces to support more abstract support more abstract student activitiesstudent activities

Spaces to Support Spaces to Support TeachingTeaching

From Chism:From Chism:

FlexibilityFlexibility

ComfortComfort

Sensory stimulationSensory stimulation

Technology supportTechnology support

DecenterednessDecenteredness

Design Space to Design Space to Support TeachingSupport Teaching

Presentation spacesPresentation spacesWho is presentingWho is presentingEncouraging interaction and Encouraging interaction and participationparticipation

Collaboration spacesCollaboration spacesResourcesResourcesComfortComfortInteractionsInteractions

Informal spacesInformal spaces

ExploreExplore

CollaborateCollaborate

InteractInteract

Where is this?Where is this?

Some Some SuggestionsSuggestions

Create a complete worldCreate a complete worldPeople need reasons to go there People need reasons to go there besides meeting for classbesides meeting for class

Find resources, announcements, Find resources, announcements, discussions, peoplediscussions, people

Informal spaces are Informal spaces are important important

People meet and work between People meet and work between formal spacesformal spaces

Effective Effective educational educational

virtual spacesvirtual spaces Flexibility and ease of buildingFlexibility and ease of building

Programming/scripting to make Programming/scripting to make the environment responsive. the environment responsive. Environment should be able to Environment should be able to

simulate what will happen simulate what will happen (labs, etc)(labs, etc)

Effective Effective educational virtual educational virtual

spacesspacesLinks to information of any Links to information of any kindkind

DocumentsDocumentsVideos (e.g. YouTube)Videos (e.g. YouTube)WikiWikiBlogsBlogsAnd all those other ones….And all those other ones….

Effective Effective educational educational

virtual spacesvirtual spacesCommunicationsCommunicationsText chatText chatAudioAudioVideo?Video?Synchronous/asynchronousSynchronous/asynchronous

Effective Effective educational educational

virtual spacesvirtual spacesDocument sharingDocument sharing

Document co-editingDocument co-editing

Manipulate objectsManipulate objects

Some ReferencesSome ReferencesFranz, G. , von der Heyde, M., & Bulthoff, H. H. (2005). Franz, G. , von der Heyde, M., & Bulthoff, H. H. (2005). An empirical approach to the experience of An empirical approach to the experience of architectural space in virtual relity—exploring architectural space in virtual relity—exploring relations between features and affective appraisals of relations between features and affective appraisals of rectangular indoor spaces. rectangular indoor spaces. Automation in Automation in ConstructionConstruction, , 1414, 165-172., 165-172.

Kenney, D. R., Dumont, R., & Kenney, G. (2005). Kenney, D. R., Dumont, R., & Kenney, G. (2005). Mission and place: Strengthening learning and Mission and place: Strengthening learning and community through campus designcommunity through campus design. Westport, CN: . Westport, CN: Praeger.Praeger.

Niemeyer, D. (2003). Niemeyer, D. (2003). Hard facts on smart classroom Hard facts on smart classroom design: Ideas, guidelines, and layouts. design: Ideas, guidelines, and layouts. Lanham, MD: Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.) (2006). Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.) (2006). Learning spaces. Learning spaces. Washington, D.C.: Educause.Washington, D.C.: Educause.