"The key element of collaboration is social interaction, that is, the mutual influence of two or more people on each other’s behavior. If there is no social interaction there is also no real collaboration."
Alexandra Petrakou
In today’s recession ridden society higher education has not only become the norm, but it has become a necessity. Many individuals are pursuing their bachelors’ or masters while still raising a family and working a full-time job. How is this all possible? Online education has made all of this possible. Since the beginning of distant learning, working adults have been able to obtain that degree they have always wanted, but never had the time to achieve. The creation of online education has allowed millions of men and women establish a foundation to make more money, or pursue the career they have always wanted. I believe as the popularity and convenience of online education increases, so does the potential of utilizing a virtual environment with avatars. A virtual environment is a computer- generated, 3D representation of a setting in which the user of the technology perceives themselves to be and within which interaction takes place (www.dictionary.reference.com, nd). Within the virtual environment avatars, which are electronic images that represent and are manipulated by a computer user are used (www.merriam-webster.com, nd). Some believe that individuals who are taking online course are missing out on the full experience of being a student, because the lack of interaction between students and teachers. The purpose of this blog is to educate individuals who are currently pursuing or would like to pursue an online education. I researched an article that actually shows a study that was done on virtual environments and the use of avatars. I want to provide my point of view on the downfalls of virtual environments, such as technology issues and the distractions it may causes online students, based on the results of the article. I want to provide information as to the flaws of participating in a virtual environment with the use of avatars for online education. I also want to provide my experience and views on the whole social experience or lack of, for online classes.
I researched an article that provides information about the study of a virtual environment with online students. This article reports the findings of a study that was conducted to see if students would potentially benefit from a virtual learning environment. The researcher Alexandra Petrakou believes, since there is a constant growth in the number of individuals taking online classes, the overall experience would be greatly improved if the students had more social interaction. Avatars could not only provide a more interactive environment, but could also make the online school experience seem more like a typical classroom with face to face interaction. I have been an online student for many years; these classes have allowed me to pursue higher education while still living a busy life. I have never felt as if I were missing the "social experience" that comes with going to a regular college. Personally, interacting with an avatar in a virtual classroom would be very distracting to me. Unless, you are taking a class that will require many group projects, individuals could become so wrapped up in the actual experience and lose focus on their goal- completing coursework. I can see many technologically savvy individuals really enjoying this opportunity and getting the full experience, however individuals who are not as technologically savvy could become overwhelmed with maneuvering their avatar through the virtual world and all the other technological issues that may arise. This will take away from their education experience. I have not felt as if there was a lack of social-interaction while taking online course. Things such as discussion boards and cafes have allowed for a dialogue type of communication. Being able to place a face with an individual is always nice, but I thought the purpose of online classes was to be able to get a degree without going through all of the extra time consuming interaction.
Ultimately, the use of avatars and virtual worlds such as Second Life is something that will possibly become more prevalent in the future. When deciding to attend an online school, individuals should do their research and become knowledgeable of the teaching format. If you are simply looking to take classes, retain what you have learned and get your degree, then virtual learning environments are not for you. Having a social experience is necessary for some individuals; therefore virtual environments may be a highlight for their learning process. I believe it is important to be able to access and understand a large amount of technology before a individual engages in utilizing a virtual environment. If the knowledge and background is not there, then make sure there is access to tech support. I personally do not need that type of interaction for my education; however a virtual learning environment can help others remain interested in what they are learning.
References
Dictionary Reference (nd). Definition of Virtual Environment. Retrieved October, 1, 2010
from, www.dictionary.reference.com.
Merriam-Webster (nd). Definition of Avatar. Retrieved October, 1, 2010
from, www.merriam-webster.com.
Petrakou, A. (2009). Interacting through avatars: Virtual worlds as a context for online education.
Retrieved September, 29, 2010 from www.sciencedirect.com.
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