Learning Arrangements in Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds provide unique opportunities for innovative distance learning arrangements and are particularly suitable for transferring experiential knowledge. Nowadays, numerous universities are exploring potentials of virtual worlds for distance learning purposes. Virtual worlds offer new possibilities for computer-mediated communication and cooperation because of their immersive character and because interaction techniques such as Voice over IP can be applied. Virtual worlds are expected to become a powerful tool for distance learning when combined with other technologies such as Web 2.0. This paper presents a theory-based framework for the arrangement of distance learning courses with virtual worlds.An analysis of activities of German universities on Second Life depicts that the potentials of virtual worlds for distance learning arrangements are not exploited sufficiently today. Structured implementation of learning arrangements in virtual worlds in combination with other technologies such as Web 2.0 was hardly observable.