Using the observer to analyze learning in virtual worlds.
In this study, we describe and analyze the ways in which high school students explored a virtual solar system (VSS). VSS is a nonimmersive virtual environment that affords visual manipulations of space by altering its frame of reference. The Observer software was used to code and analyze the participants' real-time free-exploration task. Two basic behaviors were identified across participants: establishing several home bases, and shifting between a still mode and a dynamic mode. Moreover, three overall exploration patterns emerged: the butterfly pattern represents a superficial mode of learning; the bee pattern represents an in-depth mode of studying the various celestial objects; and the eagle pattern represents a global approach of studying the complex system. This virtual reality environment promises to provide a setting in which to further study consistent patterns and individual differences in exploration strategies.
Gazit
Elhanan
E
School of Education, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Israel. gazit@post.tau.ac.il
Chen
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012986:Software Validation; D014584:User-Computer Interface