http://blog.bluelinesims.com/2010/03/virtual-classroom-better-than-real/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:03:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.bluelinesims.com/2010/03/virtual-classroom-better-than-real/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Ian Hughes/epredator Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:26:37 +0000 http://blog.bluelinesims.com/?p=115#comment-51 We often point out in the industry that virtual worlds are not there to replace real life interaction but there are clearly times when you cannot all be in one place at one time and there are also things that are needed to be shared and experienced that would be impractical to create in a physical environment. It seems obvious, but we have been training commercial pilots in virtual worlds (simulators) for years. We are able to adjust the parameters of what they experience to help rehearse. Likewise for other business and educational opportunities there are things that people can be immersed into, events that can be created. Whilst effective still for the sit and listen to a powerpoint it is the elements of place that really add to that. Unlike a webex people remember who they sat next to and where the presentation was (i.e. in the right hand corner of the office or by the tree) even if the content of the presentation is the same. That gives better human recall based on space and visual cues. If there is a suitable event, with good content then people will benefit from a richer form of engagement. Bad lessons, bad teachers, bad presenters etc tend not to be improved that much. So we have simulation and immersion in data and knowledge and we also have richer more human social interaction that removes some of the barriers imposed on us by the technology (such as the phone taking away our body language) None of this is perfect yet, it never will be but I know that done right VW interactions can lead to a whole lot more than would appear on the surface. We often point out in the industry that virtual worlds are not there to replace real life interaction but there are clearly times when you cannot all be in one place at one time and there are also things that are needed to be shared and experienced that would be impractical to create in a physical environment.
It seems obvious, but we have been training commercial pilots in virtual worlds (simulators) for years. We are able to adjust the parameters of what they experience to help rehearse.
Likewise for other business and educational opportunities there are things that people can be immersed into, events that can be created.
Whilst effective still for the sit and listen to a powerpoint it is the elements of place that really add to that. Unlike a webex people remember who they sat next to and where the presentation was (i.e. in the right hand corner of the office or by the tree) even if the content of the presentation is the same. That gives better human recall based on space and visual cues.
If there is a suitable event, with good content then people will benefit from a richer form of engagement. Bad lessons, bad teachers, bad presenters etc tend not to be improved that much.
So we have simulation and immersion in data and knowledge and we also have richer more human social interaction that removes some of the barriers imposed on us by the technology (such as the phone taking away our body language)
None of this is perfect yet, it never will be but I know that done right VW interactions can lead to a whole lot more than would appear on the surface.

]]>