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Experiential learning in the virtual world

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Nicotra, Eva (2014) Experiential learning in the virtual world. Investigations in university teaching and learning, 9. pp. 84-92. ISSN 1740-5106

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Abstract

The interest in the use of the virtual world to provide experiential learning activities in Higher Education has grown rapidly over the last few years. This paper discusses how the use of "Second Life" is to be integrated within a practically orientated module in the Event Management Undergraduate degree course at London Metropolitan University, to provide students with the kind of experience that would be difficult – for a variety of reasons - to replicate in the real world. The aim is to afford ALL students with the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge and to develop and practice relevant employability skills by planning, designing and delivering “events” in the virtual world.

By simulating a realistic environment, Virtual World (VW) applications such as Second Life (SL), defined as “persistent virtual environments. [..] enabling people represented by avatars (a personal representation in 3-D form), to create, play and interact in real time” (Penfold, 2008) can be used as a means of enhancing learning in operational aspects of Events Management.

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