"This is an important issue," Montoya says, "because we believe that if users feel they are 'present' in the virtual world, they will collaborate better with other members of their team – and the more effective the virtual world will be as a setting for research and development or other collaborative enterprises." In addition, Montoya explains "an increased sense of presence in the virtual world leads to better comprehension and retention of information if the technology is being used for training purposes, and trainees are happier with the process." Montoya is the Zelnak Professor of Marketing and Innovation at NC State.
The measurement scale developed by the researchers for the virtual world is called Perceived Virtual Presence (PVP), and factors in how users interact with the virtual environment, with their work in that environment, and with other users. "Now that we have developed the PVP scale," Montoya says, "it can be used to determine what PVP levels are most conducive to training, collaboration or other applications." Effectively, the PVP scale can be used to design a virtual environment that has the degree of reality that will best cater to a company's specific needs.
Katy L on 19 Oct 09Video of Professor James Paul Gee discussing the importance of situated learning, where images, actions, dialogues and experiences immerse you in this. Where you can marry words to worlds whereas verbal understanding in traditional education is worthless (to understand words you get more words or definititions). Gaming gives you a new tool that will let you surmise new possiblities so you can look at the environment in a new way. Every word is married to an action in a game: WOW, Sims2 or Yugioh. How do you give people a passion? Mentoring and to mentor others - knowledge is dispersible and distributed. Learning is your own responsibility and collaboration and help are essential to learning.
