Shiv on Learning

Here is how virtual worlds can cater to auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning styles.

Auditory learners can:

• Listen to the people talking. Be it the instructor or other students, learners can increase the volume of the person they wish to focus on and turn down everyone else.

• Discuss the topic – with instructor or peers, use a private chat channel if you don’t want to disrupt the group.

• Read out written material. Students can mute their microphones and read written text out loud without disturbing the rest of the group.

• Audio material – Audio material can be streamed in to the virtual world. Learners can play pause and replay it without disrupting others listening to it.

• Sound effects with self learning activities

Visual

• Information can be presented as images, charts or 3D objects.

• Avatar gestures can be used to add body language while talking.

• Learners can move their cameras so they can only see the information they want to focus on and not anything else.

• Make notes withing the virtual world client as you go.

• Copy chat text and annotate it.

• Take screen shots and annotate later.

• The 3D environment can be designed or adapted specifically for the lesson.
  
  Picture: a lesson about in an art gallery.

• Noise can be muted so learners can focus on visual material.

• Movement in the virtual world can be used to visualize a point.
  
  Picture: illustrating a point with movement.

• Video can be streamed in, played paused and replayed.

Kinesthetic

• Partaking in role play / simulation.
  
  Picture: Role play, checking into hotels

• Activity based classes – actives involve moving around worlds.

• Let learners find information instead of the teacher presenting it.

• Learners can build things in the 3d world as part of the activity.

• Learners can move their avatars around while learning.

• Learners can move their camera around and keep their avatar still.

• Adjust their physical body without it distracting the rest of the group.