19
Virtual realities
Feature
The Serious Games Institute Steering Group in Second Life
The chart below shows the changing
The changing
attitudes and styles being shaped by new
media technologies and internet services.
landscape
This changing landscape represents a
shift away from a traditional hierarchical
learning model in which knowledge and
skills are transferred downwards from a
What does the future of technology have in store for
knowledge professional and are absorbed
by the learner in formal classroom/lecture
the learning industry? In an introduction to a series of
theatre settings to a more learner-centric
articles on future gazing, David Wortley explains that
environment based on learner-directed
discovery of knowledge and collaborative
the real and virtual world are integrating for the next
peer-to-peer learning. In this environment,
generation’s learning
knowledge professionals in many
disciplines will be challenged by highly
only shape the future of learning, but will
P
redicting how technology is likely motivated learners who, for a variety of
to affect learning over the coming
also be intolerant of traditional classroom
reasons, will ‘know’ more than those
decade is an almost impossible task
based “chalk and talk” methods.
mandated to educate them.
when emerging technologies can change
the learning landscape in increasingly Traditionalist Boomer Gen X Gen Y
unpredictable ways and timescales.
Too much and Required to Continuous &
However, one of the most important
Training
The hard way
I’ll leave keep me expected
developments is likely to revolve around
Collaborative &
virtual world, 3D immersive environment
Learning style
Classroom Facilitated Independent
networked
applications such as Second Life, in which
educators are already exploring the potential
Communication
Top down Guarded Hub & spoke Collaborative
of these new virtual learning spaces.
Problem-solving
Hierarchical Horizontal Independent Collaborative
Emerging technologies like these, and
Decision making
Seeks approval Team informed Team included Team decided
sophisticated media-rich computer games
consoles and mobile phones, have already
Leadership style
Command & control Get out of the way Coach Partner
had an impact on the attitudes, abilities and
No news is
Feedback
Once per year Weekly/daily On demand
expectations of the so-called generation Y.
good news
People of all ages not only have access to
Unable to work Unfathomable if
Technology use
Uncomfortable Unsure
learning content in unprecedented ways
without it not provided
but are also involved in producing and
Part of my daily
Job changing
Unwise Sets me back Necessary
sharing content as never before. It is the
routine
youth of today with their willingness to
This chart shows the changing attitudes and styles shaped by new media
embrace new technologies who will not technologies and internet services
Learning Magazine
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