LiveseyMotleyPresentation

Leveraging Social Networking & Immersive 3D Environments for

Better Online Instruction

Dr. Matthew Livesey, English & Philosophy

Phillip Motley, Art & DesignUniversity of Wisconsin - Stout

95% Report using Facebook47% Use Facebook exclusively42% Report using MySpace

1.8% Use MySpace exclusively

How often?41% Multiple times per day

39% Daily

Leveraging Social Networking & Immersive 3D Environments for Better Online Instruction

Social Networking:Usage

Viewing photos (91%)Sending messages (87%)Reading messages (85%)

Writing on friends’ walls (84%)


Social Networking: Most Popular Activities

Discussing issues (28%)Discussing classes (25%)


Social Networking: Least Popular Activities

Writing on friends’ walls (20%)Sending messages and reading news

about friends (17% each)Viewing photos and “Other” (12%

each)


Social Networking: Most Important Activity

“The social networking tool helps me keep in touch with peopleI also see in person.”

86% agreed or strongly agreed

“Unless someone has seen my online profile, they don’t really know me.”71% disagreed or strongly disagreed


Social Networking: Attitudes

“The CMS allowed me to stay connected with my instructor.”

67% Agree or Strongly Agree

“I interact with other students through the CMS.”

38% Agree or Strongly Agree


Course Management Systems: Attitudes

Social networking tools’ most popular features are those in which students

create the content (wall posts, messages) and consume the content that other students create (viewing

photos, reading messages).

How can course delivery tools begin to leverage that interest?


Social Networking: Discussion

Our survey shows strongly that students most value interacting

online with people they also see in person.

How can we as educators make online instructional environments more an extension of in-person interactions?


Social Networking: Discussion

60% Report playing computer games32% play massively multiplayer

online games (MMOGs)

How often?24% Daily

26% Several times a week


Computer & Video Games: Usage


100% Entertainment35% Social interaction30% Narrative value

16% Leadership development5% Education

Computer & Video Games: Reasons for Using


2% “Second Life”14% Other immersive 3D environments

Immersive 3D Environments: Usage


Games & Immersive Environments: Attitudes

“The MMOG helps me keep in touch with people who I also see in

person.”32% agreed or strongly agreed

“A person who has never met me will be able to tell what kind of person I am from my identity in the MMOG”77% disagreed or Strongly disagreed


Games & Immersive Environments: Discussion

Our survey shows that a minority of respondents are engaged in MMOGs and other immersive 3D environments yet those that are seem to value the

social aspect of these experiences.

Is it possible to use virtual environments to bridge the gap

between the experiences of face-to-face classroom and online distance

education?


Games & Immersive Environments: Discussion

Our survey shows that the social value of MMOGs and other immersive 3D environments, while not the dominant

reason for engagement, is significant.

What is the value of the social engagement aspect of MMOGs? Does our concept of educational gaming need to be expanded to include the social and

interactive aspects of MMOGs?

Technology

LiveseyMotleyPresentation