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A framework to prepare the application of virtual worlds in distance education in developing countries

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Abstract

This paper presents a framework to help preparing the implementation of virtual worlds, emphasizing on the requirements that distance education students need to meet to have a successful learning experience. A virtual world was developed using the OpenSimulator platform, under the pedagogical perspective of the Experiential Learning model, in a role-play simulation approach. An exploratory study was carried out with 19 experts from three different domains, collecting specialized feedback around technical and pedagogical dimensions, considering the target audience peculiarities, especially focusing on developing countries. The results culminated with the proposal of eight guidelines to harness the potential of the technology of virtual worlds for distance education.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Ministry of Education, Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Aliane Loureiro Krassmann, João Marcos Flach, Liane Margarida Rockenbach Tarouco & Magda Bercht

  2. Antonio Menghetti Faculdade, Restinga Seca, Brazil

    Felipe Becker Nunes

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  1. Aliane Loureiro Krassmann
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  2. Felipe Becker Nunes
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  3. João Marcos Flach
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  4. Liane Margarida Rockenbach Tarouco
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  5. Magda Bercht
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Correspondence to Aliane Loureiro Krassmann.

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Krassmann, A.L., Nunes, F.B., Flach, J.M. et al. A framework to prepare the application of virtual worlds in distance education in developing countries. Univ Access Inf Soc 20, 451–463 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-020-00771-2

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