12033p

12033p

Refereed Paper with Presentation (20 minutes)

Mark Mabrito, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana, USA, mmabrito@purdue.edu
 * Avatars’ Informational Preferences in a Virtual World**

There is a growing interest among educators in exploring multi-user-virtual environments (MUVEs), such as Second Life, as platforms for distance learning and other applications. Additionally, such virtual environments provide rich opportunities for constructivist approaches to teaching and learning. Yet, the notion that virtual worlds also provide an opportunity for writing instructors to teach about multimodal texts and new media literacies is an area that has received less attention. This study examined the informational preferences of avatars (students) who were members of a class that met online in the virtual world of Second Life. Specifically, the purpose was to assess avatars’ informational preferences from among three different media: print articles, machinima, and direct exploration within Second Life while enrolled in a course studying the virtual world of Second Life. Study found that avatars expressed a greater preference for information gathered from machinima and information gathered first-hand from Second Life than print-based information, although their subsequent discussions about the information varied in specificity, depending on the medium they were referencing.

All Audiences virtual worlds Second Life