The use of computer generated virtual realities in education has been explored at a unique workshop in Derry.
IMMERS[ED] 2009 brought together some of the leading exponents of using virtual worlds in an educational environment and was hosted by the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems in the Great Hall at Magee on Friday.
Michael Callaghan, worksho
p organiser and leader of the Serious Games and Virtual Worlds research team at the School said: “The use of immersive virtual worlds for teaching and learning represents a natural evolution in e-learning tools.
“It allows greater levels of student participation and interaction, engaging digital natives and creating new, exciting and innovative possibilities for educational provision.”
The workshop, which highlighted the growing importance of virtual worlds such as Second Life as teaching tools, aimed to raise awareness of the benefits and possible pitfalls of using digitally created worlds in an educational context.
Kerri McCusker, workshop organiser and researcher in virtual worlds said: “This workshop, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, highlights the increasing interest in this area and the rapid adoption of this platform as a serious tool for teaching. This event will give delegates an insight into how to effectively use virtual worlds in this context.”
Speakers
The line-up of speakers from the UK and Ireland included: John Kirriemuir of Virtual Worlds Watch; Daniel Livingstone (SLOODLE) & University of West Scotland; David Burden (PIVOTE) & Daden Limited; Michael Callaghan and Kerri McCusker of the University of Ulster: Tim Savage and Carina Girvan of Trinity College Dublin: and Barry McAdam and Anna O’Donovan of INTEL.
Delegates were given an insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching using virtual worlds such as Second Life, Opensim and Metaplace.
