Virtual World Play: Neuroplasticity, Transfer of Learning, & Discovery Learning
Virtual worlds are considered games to many. While legitimate learning has become well documented in video games over the last two decades, virtual worlds present unique perspectives and opportunities. Rather than being task- or quest-based, virtual worlds present a blank slate in which participants must make broader choices and work harder to find relatable activities, as well as locating resources to learn basic and advanced skills. This session explores the impact on neuroplasticity and transfer of learning of virtual world skills, the peripheral skills that contribute to the virtual world environment, and the benefits of discovery learning theory in this medium. The presenter will share some of her own publications, experiences, and applications while exploring the components of these topics.
This TED type session explores the impact of virtual world participation in four parts. First, we will explore the question: What makes virtual world participation different from other “games?” This is followed by an examination of how the choice of the types of participation in the virtual world affects neuroplasticity with regard to the use of technology, with a focus on older adults. This will include excerpts from a textbook chapter co-authored by the presenter.
We will then delve into probing how learning virtual world skills and peripheral skills may affect the positive transfer of learning into real world skills. The presenter will share her own personal experiences regarding effects on her professional life as an instructional designer in a major medical school. Finally, we analyze the manner in which discovery learning is relevant to the virtual world and why it is so impactful.
Speaker
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Virginia Dickenson / Xenon Darrow (Poster Booth #15)Xenon Darrow has been in virtual worlds since 2006. She was originally in Second Life and an active participant in helping others learning virtual world skills, as well as bringing corporate learning into the virtual world and using it’s components to create learning in the real world. She has been an active denizen in OpenSim for about 3.5 years, currently residing at Wolf Territories. She has a personal learning project called Inspiring Learning Spaces in the Virtual World and another for teaching instructional systems design in an immersive environment. She is the founder of WolfTEC – Wolf Territories Educational Community, as well as the Wolf Territories ambassador for VWEC – Virtual Worlds Education Consortium. Xenon is a real life instruction designer at a major medical school, often using AI and virtual world media for content and design. She had a learning and development business for over 32 years, with the core of her clients being Fortune 50 companies. She has worked with & in higher education for over 13 years.
