Classroom-in-a-Box: Rethinking Learning Community Classroom Environment Needs within Three-Dimensional Virtual Learning Environments

Abstract

This discussion focuses upon a theoretical understanding of the instructional architecture that supports learningcommunities within three-dimensional virtual worldenvironments; specifically, within the Second Life worldenvironment. This theoretical understanding provides the essential link between instructional imperatives, performance improvement and a community of learningwithin an instructional technology framework. Motivated by the shift from the Information Age known for the availability of information towards the Cognitive Age which emphasizes the ability to access, evaluate, organize, comprehend, apply, analyze, synthesize and innovatively represent information into an enhanced understanding and novel use, this discussion offers the opportunity to directly address the learner’s needs within the threedimensionalvirtual learning environment, such as Second Life, through the design of a virtual learning environment classroom-in-a-box.