Robert Sanders

Dr. Robert Sanders is an associate professor and program director for the library science program at Appalachian State University. He also currently serves as the assistant chair of the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Prior to ASU, Dr. Sanders worked professionally as a teacher, media specialist, administrator, and as an instructional technology consultant. He is the past president of both the Ohio Distance Learning Association and the League of Worlds, an international virtual world collaborative. He is also a Fellow with the Virtual World Consortium, a collaborative research and development effort between Appalachian State University and Clemson University focused on 3D immersive learning environments for teaching and learning. Dr. Sanders’ current research is focused on the use of Action Learning pedagogy in these 3D virtual worlds and the symbiotic relationship that exists in the convergence of these two phenomena as it relates to our understanding of teaching and learning in these virtual environments.

Publications

Perceptions of Presence and Community in Immersive Online Learning Environments
Perceptions of Presence and Community in Immersive Online Learning Environments
Amelia W. Cheney, Terry McClannon, Les Bolt, Robert L. Sanders. © 2023. 17 pages.
This chapter is based on survey research conducted between 2010 and 2017, involving 1053 graduate students using immersive online learning environments for their coursework....
Facilitating Communities of Practice in Online Immersive Learning Environments
Facilitating Communities of Practice in Online Immersive Learning Environments
Krista Terry, Amy Cheney, Les Bolt, Terry McClannon, Robert L. Sanders. © 2019. 23 pages.
This exploratory study is based on survey research involving graduate students using this 3D immersive environment for their coursework. Investigators examined students'...
Perceptions of Presence and Community in Immersive Online Learning Environments
Perceptions of Presence and Community in Immersive Online Learning Environments
Amelia W. Cheney, Terry McClannon, Les Bolt, Robert L. Sanders. © 2019. 16 pages.
This chapter is based on survey research conducted between 2010 and 2017, involving 1053 graduate students using immersive online learning environments for their coursework....
Facilitating Communities of Practice in Online Immersive Learning Environments
Facilitating Communities of Practice in Online Immersive Learning Environments
Krista Terry, Amy Cheney, Les Bolt, Terry McClannon, Robert L. Sanders. © 2016. 28 pages.
This exploratory study is based on survey research involving graduate students using this 3D immersive environment for their coursework. Investigators examined students'...
Factors Affecting Development of Communities in 3D Immersive Learning Environments
Factors Affecting Development of Communities in 3D Immersive Learning Environments
Terry McClannon, Robert Sanders, Amy Cheney, Les Bolt, Krista Terry. © 2013. 17 pages.
This study is based on survey research conducted in 2010 and 2011, involving graduate students using a 3D immersive environment for their coursework. Investigators examined...
The New Company Water Cooler: Use of 3D Virtual Immersive Worlds to Promote Networking and Professional Learning in Organizations
The New Company Water Cooler: Use of 3D Virtual Immersive Worlds to Promote Networking and Professional Learning in Organizations
Amelia W. Cheney, Richard E. Riedl, Robert Sanders, John H. Tashner. © 2012. 14 pages.
Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches
Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches
Amy Cheney, Robert L. Sanders. © 2011. 366 pages.
Virtual worlds are an area of growing interest in many sectors, including higher education. While Web-based tools have existed for years to help deliver course content, these...
Teaching IT Through Learning Communities in a 3D Immersive World
Teaching IT Through Learning Communities in a 3D Immersive World
Richard E. Riedl, Regis Gilman, John H. Tashner, Stephen C. Bronack, Amy Cheney, Robert Sanders, Roma Angel. © 2011. 18 pages.
The development of learning communities has become an acknowledged goal of educators at all levels. As education continues to move into online environments, virtual learning...
The New Company Water Cooler: Use of 3D Virtual Immersive Worlds to Promote Networking and Professional Learning in Organizations
The New Company Water Cooler: Use of 3D Virtual Immersive Worlds to Promote Networking and Professional Learning in Organizations
Amelia W. Cheney, Richard E. Riedl, Robert L. Sanders, John H. Tashner. © 2010. 14 pages.
Employees gathered around the water cooler – the image is now a corporate cliché. This type of informal networking allows members of an organization to build – or break –...
Constructing Transformative Learning Communities in 3D Immersive Learning Environments
Constructing Transformative Learning Communities in 3D Immersive Learning Environments
Barbara Howard, Robert Sanders, Terry McClannon. © 2010. 14 pages.
Programs that prepare leaders for the 21st century must do so with the intent of equipping them not only with traditional reserves of knowledge and theory but with a focus on...
Teaching IT Through Learning Communities in a 3D Immersive World: The Evolution of Online Instruction
Teaching IT Through Learning Communities in a 3D Immersive World: The Evolution of Online Instruction
Richard E. Riedl, Regis Gilman, John H. Tashner, Stephen C. Bronack, Amy Cheney, Robert Sanders, Roma Angel. © 2008. 18 pages.
The development of learning communities has become an acknowledged goal of educators at all levels. As education continues to move into online environments, virtual learning...