2005 International Conference on CYBERWORLDS

Cyberlearning

This topic addresses technological and pedagogical issues of using cyberworlds for education. The use of technology for learning has seen tremendous and significant enhancements for quite some time. The move from teacher-led in classroom-based context has evolved to learning made available without any constraints. Student-centric learning environment provides the learner the control to select and pace one’s own learning path in accordance to his/her specific learning needs. The more recent trend in innovation has seen effectiveness in the adoption of technology for the learning process. Use of educational technology, coupled with appropriate online pedagogies and strategies, can make learning more engaging and enriching for the learners. Learning can be anytime and anywhere with the use of cyberworlds technology, enhancing the instructor-student as well as peer-to-peer interaction and moving towards online collaborative potential and learning environment. Online collaboration in teaching and learning can provide the scope for problem-based learning and real situation application for the world of work. Learners will take greater responsibility for their own learning and online interaction with instructors and peers can enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills. The use of virtual and interactive communication technologies for learning will certainly facilitate collaboration among instructors and learners for a more enriching teaching and learning experiences. The sharing of opinions, reflections and peer evaluation via collaboration tools such as virtual chat, discussion forums and real-time sharing in cyber class context will encourage internalization of knowledge and stimulate critical and creative thinking in learners. The use of email, messaging, virtual worlds as communication-collaboration tools will further provide the cyber link for both instructor and learner. Through the convergence of communication and computer technologies, we can certainly look forward to emerging potentials for online collaboration in the teaching and learning environment. The use of rich media and 3D-animations to enhance the learning content will also provide an extension to the potential for cyber world technologies in the teaching and learning environment.