Creating the theory of virtual learning environments an example of a language forum

Nowadays, the potential of virtual environments in education is widely acknowledged. With the paradigm shift of learning and teaching from behaviourism and cognitivism to constructivism, computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and virtual learning environments (VLE) in particular appeared to be p...

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Main Author: Rakhmankulova, Elena
Other Authors: Humanistinen tiedekunta, Faculty of Humanities, Taiteiden ja kulttuurin tutkimuksen laitos, Department of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2010
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/43017
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author Rakhmankulova, Elena
author2 Humanistinen tiedekunta Faculty of Humanities Taiteiden ja kulttuurin tutkimuksen laitos Department of Art and Cultural Studies University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_facet Rakhmankulova, Elena Humanistinen tiedekunta Faculty of Humanities Taiteiden ja kulttuurin tutkimuksen laitos Department of Art and Cultural Studies University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto Rakhmankulova, Elena Humanistinen tiedekunta Faculty of Humanities Taiteiden ja kulttuurin tutkimuksen laitos Department of Art and Cultural Studies University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_sort Rakhmankulova, Elena
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description Nowadays, the potential of virtual environments in education is widely acknowledged. With the paradigm shift of learning and teaching from behaviourism and cognitivism to constructivism, computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and virtual learning environments (VLE) in particular appeared to be perfect tools for putting the main ideas of the new approach into practice. The new technology is currently used in teaching various subjects such as medical education, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and language learning to name just a few, and its popularity is increasing. Nevertheless, there have been no attempts made to study the phenomenon of VLE as such. Current research investigates the theoretical background of a VLE, in general, and the characteristics that make or do not make a language forum a VLE, in particular. There has been extensive theoretical and experimental research on the use and advantages of VLEs. However, a coherent theory of VLEs is lacking and many experiments are done without grounding the assumptions in the theory. To build the theory of VLEs, this research sets the crucial definitions of virtual reality (VR), virtual environment (VE) and VLE, discusses the ground for the use of VLEs in education and characteristics of modern VLEs, compares different kinds of VLEs (2D, 3D and 2D+3D) and identifies their common characteristics. The set of defined characteristics is used in this research to analyze if a forum, a 2D or text-based VLE, can be an independent VLE metaphor and explains the reasons for such conclusion. This research is conducted qualitatively in the framework of grounded theory. Data from previous research on VLEs and second language learning and second language acquisition theory (SLL/SLA), available information about virtual environments and worlds, and observation of the area, i.e. the forum are analyzed to build a description of VLEs. Initially, the VLE characteristics are conceptualized on the basis of the theoretical data to be tested in the analysis of a language learning forum. The research result is a set of characteristics of VLE to serve as a basis for further experimental research. The factors of constructivist VLEs are a representation of the real world, knowledge construction, authenticity, case-based orientation, reflection, and collaboration and negotiation of meaning. They are found in other learning environments as well. The factors specific to VLEs are a construction of an environment and its objects, social structure and sense of presence or immersion. All of the characteristics are found in the language learning forum. This is the criterion to define a forum as a VLE; otherwise a forum as such is not necessarily a VLE. The research also reveals that existing studies on immersion do not adequately allow measuring its level and this question requires further independent research. Therefore, current research accepts that there is a sense of presence on the forum, but it questions the existence of immersion and its kinds.
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With the paradigm\nshift of learning and teaching from behaviourism and cognitivism to constructivism, computer-assisted\nlanguage learning (CALL) and virtual learning environments (VLE) in particular appeared to be perfect tools\nfor putting the main ideas of the new approach into practice. The new technology is currently used in teaching\nvarious subjects such as medical education, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and language learning to name\njust a few, and its popularity is increasing. Nevertheless, there have been no attempts made to study the\nphenomenon of VLE as such. Current research investigates the theoretical background of a VLE, in general,\nand the characteristics that make or do not make a language forum a VLE, in particular. There has been\nextensive theoretical and experimental research on the use and advantages of VLEs. However, a coherent\ntheory of VLEs is lacking and many experiments are done without grounding the assumptions in the theory.\nTo build the theory of VLEs, this research sets the crucial definitions of virtual reality (VR), virtual\nenvironment (VE) and VLE, discusses the ground for the use of VLEs in education and characteristics of\nmodern VLEs, compares different kinds of VLEs (2D, 3D and 2D+3D) and identifies their common\ncharacteristics. The set of defined characteristics is used in this research to analyze if a forum, a 2D or\ntext-based VLE, can be an independent VLE metaphor and explains the reasons for such conclusion. This\nresearch is conducted qualitatively in the framework of grounded theory. Data from previous research on\nVLEs and second language learning and second language acquisition theory (SLL/SLA), available\ninformation about virtual environments and worlds, and observation of the area, i.e. the forum are analyzed to\nbuild a description of VLEs. Initially, the VLE characteristics are conceptualized on the basis of the theoretical\ndata to be tested in the analysis of a language learning forum. The research result is a set of characteristics of\nVLE to serve as a basis for further experimental research. The factors of constructivist VLEs are a\nrepresentation of the real world, knowledge construction, authenticity, case-based orientation, reflection, and\ncollaboration and negotiation of meaning. They are found in other learning environments as well. The factors\nspecific to VLEs are a construction of an environment and its objects, social structure and sense of presence or\nimmersion. All of the characteristics are found in the language learning forum. This is the criterion to define a\nforum as a VLE; otherwise a forum as such is not necessarily a VLE. The research also reveals that existing\nstudies on immersion do not adequately allow measuring its level and this question requires further\nindependent research. 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spellingShingle Rakhmankulova, Elena Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum Digital Culture (maisteriohjelma) International Master's Degree Programme in Digital Culture 319 virtuaaliympäristö oppimisympäristö tietokoneavusteinen oppiminen kielen oppiminen
title Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum
title_full Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum
title_fullStr Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum
title_full_unstemmed Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum
title_short Creating the theory of virtual learning environments
title_sort creating the theory of virtual learning environments an example of a language forum
title_sub an example of a language forum
title_txtP Creating the theory of virtual learning environments : an example of a language forum
topic Digital Culture (maisteriohjelma) International Master's Degree Programme in Digital Culture 319 virtuaaliympäristö oppimisympäristö tietokoneavusteinen oppiminen kielen oppiminen
topic_facet 319 Digital Culture (maisteriohjelma) International Master's Degree Programme in Digital Culture kielen oppiminen oppimisympäristö tietokoneavusteinen oppiminen virtuaaliympäristö
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/43017 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201402261287
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