This qualitative research study used a phenomenological approach to examine educators' experiences in the virtual world of Second Life[TM]. The rationale for this study's focus on educators using a virtual world stems from an interest in the factors that influence educational practices in virtual worlds. The researcher conducted focus groups…

Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are becoming increasingly popular in online education environments and have multiple pedagogical advantages over more traditional approaches to education. VLEs include 3D worlds where students can engage in simulated learning activities such as Second Life. According to Claudia L'Amoreaux at Linden Lab, "at…

When it comes to remote collaboration in eLearning, it's all about where people are now vs. where people are going. A 1999 innovation model presented by R.S. Rosenbloom describes three stages of development for any new technology: (1) imitation; (2) incremental improvement; and (3) transformation. Mapping these stages onto the current state of…

Explores what a return to a more theory-based scientific approach to education might mean for the study and practice of educational technology. Topics include science, technology, and constructivism; knowledge construction; how to deal with complexity; and roles of educational technology, including creating virtual learning environments and…

Discusses the use of information and communication technology in collaborative learning environments and reports on a study of four good practice examples of collaborative learning and virtual learning environments. Explains factors critical to success and emphasizes the importance of coherent coursedesign. (Author/LRW)

Describes for-profit U.S. schools, focusing on the University of Phoenix, Arizona, and DeVry University, the largest for-profit schools in the country. Notes that these schools are in fierce competition with community colleges, regional state universities, and private schools. Notes that opponents complain that such schools are operated as…

This paper describes a study of success factors in high enrollment courses in a K-12 virtual school learning environment. The influence of variables: time student spent in the learning management system (LMS), number of times logged into the LMS, teacher comment, participation in free or reduced lunch programs, student status in the virtual school…

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide serves more than 36,000 online students across the globe, many of whom are military and other non-traditional students, offering 34 undergraduate, graduate, and professional education/workforce certificate programs, presented both online and via blended delivery modes. The centralized model of online…

Online learning and our current system of local education governance are at odds with one another, to say the least. In this paper, John Chubb examines how local school district control retards the widespread use of instructional technologies. He argues that the surest way to break down the system's inherent resistance to technology is to shift…

Pressing Forward: Increasing and Expanding Rigor and Relevance in America's High Schools is organized to place secondary education, specifically the goals of preparing young adults to be college and career ready, in contemporary perspective, emphasizing the changing global economy and trends in policy and practice. High school students must be…

This paper reviews recent e-mentoring literature to provide human resource development (HRD) professionals and practitioners with insights into emerging trends of e-mentoring in virtual education. A brief overview of e-mentoring, benefits, barriers, and successes are presented. Evaluation strategies for an e-mentoring environment are also provided.

Evaluation experiments have been essential in exploring home delivery of lectures for which users can experience campus lifestyle and distant learning through 3D virtual space. This paper discusses the necessity of virtual space for distant learners by examining the effects of virtual space. The authors have pursued the possibility of…

This chapter discusses two case studies where face-to-face courses were converted into online courses.

As networking systems have become more complex and expensive, hands-on experiments based on networking simulation have become essential for teaching the key computer networking topics to students. The simulation approach is the most cost effective and highly useful because it provides a virtual environment for an assortment of desirable features…

Virtual learning communities encourage members to learn and contribute knowledge. However, knowledge sharing requires mutual-trust collaboration between learners and the contribution of quality knowledge. This task cannot be accomplished by simply storing learning content in repositories. It requires a mechanism to help learners find relevant…