Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT of immersive learning technologies in the form of virtual reality and advanced computer applications has meant that realistic creations of simulated environments are now possible. Such simulations have been used to great effect in training in the military, air force, and in medical training. But how realistic do problems need to be in education for effective learning to occur? Some authors and researchers argue that problems should be real, or that simulations should have ultrarealistic physical similarity to an actual context. This paper proposes that physical verisimilitude to real situations is of less importance in learning than “cognitive realism,” provided by immersing students in engaging and complex tasks. The paper presents a description of the theory and research that provide the foundations for this approach. Examples of courses employing cognitive, rather than physical, realism are presented together with the views of teachers, authors and instructional designers. Finally, the implications of this approach are discussed.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jan Herrington is Associate Professor in IT in Education at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Recent research and development interests have focused on the design of Web-based learning environments for higher education and the use of authentic tasks as a central focus for Web-based courses. Dr. Herrington was awarded the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)Young Researcher of the Year Award in Houston in 1999 and won a Fulbright Scholarship in 2002 to conduct research at the University of Georgia, USA. The authentic tasks Web page (developed with Tom Reeves and Ron Oliver) can be accessed at: www.authentictasks.uow.edu.au.
Thomas C. Reeves is Professor of Instructional Technology at The University of Georgia. After completing his PhD at Syracuse University in 1979, he spent a year as a Fulbright lecturer in Peru. His research interests include evaluation of instructional technology, socially responsible educational research, mental models and cognitive tools, authentic learning models, and instructional technology in developing countries. In 2003, he was the first person to receive theAACE Fellowship Award from the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. HisInteractive Learning Systems Evaluation book (with John Hedberg) was published in 2003. His URL is: http://it.coe.uga.edu/∼treeves/
Ron Oliver is the Foundation Professor of Interactive Multimedia at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. He has wide experience in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-mediated and online learning materials. He uses technology extensively in his own teaching, and his ideas and activities are all typically grounded in practical applications. Dr. Oliver has won a number of awards for his innovative teaching and research, including the inauguralAustralian Award for University Teaching for the use of multimedia in university teaching. His URL is http:// elrond.scam.ecu.edu.au/oliver
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Herrington, J., Reeves, T.C. & Oliver, R. Immersive learning technologies: Realism and online authentic learning. J. Comput. High. Educ. 19, 80–99 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033421
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033421