article

Learning and Building Together in an Immersive Virtual World

Authors:

Andrew Johnson,

Christina Vasilakis,

Craig BarnesAuthors Info & Claims

Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, Volume 8, Issue 3

Pages 247 - 263

https://doi.org/10.1162/105474699566215

Published: 01 June 1999 Publication History

Abstract

This paper describes the design, evaluation, and lessons learned from a project involving the implementation of an immersive virtual environment for children called NICE (Narrative-based, Immersive, Constructionist/Collaborative Environments). The goal of the NICE project was to construct a testbed for the exploration of virtual reality as a learning medium within the context of the primary educational reform themes of the past three decades. With a focus on informal education and domains with social content, NICE embraces the constructivist approach to learning, collaboration, and narrative development, and is designed to utilize the strengths of virtual reality: a combination of immersion, telepresence, immediate visual feedback, and interactivity. Based on our experiences with a broad range of users, the paper discusses both the successes and limitations of NICE and concludes with recommendations for research directions in the application of immersive VR technologies to children's learning.

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Published In

cover image Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments

Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments Volume 8, Issue 3

June 1999

124 pages

ISSN:1054-7460

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MIT Press

Cambridge, MA, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 June 1999

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Sayis BRamirez RPares N(2022)Mixed reality or LEGO game play? Fostering social interaction in children with AutismVirtual Reality10.1007/s10055-021-00580-926:2(771-787)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2022
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