Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments: An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning

Barney Dalgarno

Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments

An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning

Research output: Book/Report › Book

Abstract

Interactive 3D virtual environments have the potential to engage learners in the exploration, construction and manipulation of virtual objects, structures and metaphorical representations of ideas. However, learning advantages over other types of multimedia depend on implicit assumptions that a more accurate and complete spatial cognitive model can be formed through active user-controlled exploration than from viewing an equivalent animation, and that animated view changes provide advantages over static images. The results to date, however, do not clearly support these assumptions. This book, based on Barney Dalgarno's doctoral work, reports on studies exploring the importance of active exploration and animated view changes for spatial learning in virtual environments. The results indicate that active exploration can provide greater spatial learning than viewing of animations, but only if the task goals during this exploration are aligned with the tested spatial learning. The results also suggest that well-chosen static views of the environment can in some cases allow the formation of as complete a spatial cognitive model as animated views.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Saarbrücken, Germany
Publisher	VDM Verlag Dr. Muller
Number of pages	468
ISBN (Print)	9783639069815
Publication status	Published - 2008

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Dalgarno, B. (2008). Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments: An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning. Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Muller.

Dalgarno, Barney. / Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments : An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning. Saarbrücken, Germany : VDM Verlag Dr. Muller, 2008. 468 p.

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abstract = "Interactive 3D virtual environments have the potential to engage learners in the exploration, construction and manipulation of virtual objects, structures and metaphorical representations of ideas. However, learning advantages over other types of multimedia depend on implicit assumptions that a more accurate and complete spatial cognitive model can be formed through active user-controlled exploration than from viewing an equivalent animation, and that animated view changes provide advantages over static images. The results to date, however, do not clearly support these assumptions. This book, based on Barney Dalgarno's doctoral work, reports on studies exploring the importance of active exploration and animated view changes for spatial learning in virtual environments. The results indicate that active exploration can provide greater spatial learning than viewing of animations, but only if the task goals during this exploration are aligned with the tested spatial learning. The results also suggest that well-chosen static views of the environment can in some cases allow the formation of as complete a spatial cognitive model as animated views.",

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Dalgarno, B 2008, Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments: An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning. VDM Verlag Dr. Muller, Saarbrücken, Germany.

Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments : An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning. / Dalgarno, Barney.

Saarbrücken, Germany : VDM Verlag Dr. Muller, 2008. 468 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

TY - BOOK

T1 - Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments

T2 - An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning

AU - Dalgarno, Barney

N1 - Imported on 08 May 2017 - DigiTool details were: publisher = Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr Müller, 2008. editor/s (773b) = Barney Dalgarno.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Interactive 3D virtual environments have the potential to engage learners in the exploration, construction and manipulation of virtual objects, structures and metaphorical representations of ideas. However, learning advantages over other types of multimedia depend on implicit assumptions that a more accurate and complete spatial cognitive model can be formed through active user-controlled exploration than from viewing an equivalent animation, and that animated view changes provide advantages over static images. The results to date, however, do not clearly support these assumptions. This book, based on Barney Dalgarno's doctoral work, reports on studies exploring the importance of active exploration and animated view changes for spatial learning in virtual environments. The results indicate that active exploration can provide greater spatial learning than viewing of animations, but only if the task goals during this exploration are aligned with the tested spatial learning. The results also suggest that well-chosen static views of the environment can in some cases allow the formation of as complete a spatial cognitive model as animated views.

AB - Interactive 3D virtual environments have the potential to engage learners in the exploration, construction and manipulation of virtual objects, structures and metaphorical representations of ideas. However, learning advantages over other types of multimedia depend on implicit assumptions that a more accurate and complete spatial cognitive model can be formed through active user-controlled exploration than from viewing an equivalent animation, and that animated view changes provide advantages over static images. The results to date, however, do not clearly support these assumptions. This book, based on Barney Dalgarno's doctoral work, reports on studies exploring the importance of active exploration and animated view changes for spatial learning in virtual environments. The results indicate that active exploration can provide greater spatial learning than viewing of animations, but only if the task goals during this exploration are aligned with the tested spatial learning. The results also suggest that well-chosen static views of the environment can in some cases allow the formation of as complete a spatial cognitive model as animated views.

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Dalgarno B. Spatial Learning in Virtual Environments: An exploration of the distinguishing characteristics of 3D virtual environments and the contribution of these characteristics to spatial learning. Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Muller, 2008. 468 p.