1. Virtual Learning Environments and How they Affect Student Learning Alex Gill Education 6610 Dr. Elizabeth Murphy March 4, 2010

3. Table 1 Summary of Journals Selected

4. Table 2 Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

5. Out of the 15 studiesthe purpose can be classified into 3 groups

9. Methods

10. Table 3 Summary of Level, Context & Approach of Each Study

11. Table 3 Continued…

12. Table 4 Participants and Data Collection

13. Table 4 Continued…

14. Findings can beclassified into 3 groups

18. Discussion on Virtual Labs

20. Discussion on Online Learning

22. Discussion on Virtual Software

24. Conclusions can be classified into 3 groups

28. General and specific recommendations

30. Specific recommendationsare cited from 4 studies

32. Implications

33. References 1 Barab, S., Thomas, M., Dodge, T., Carteaux, R., & Tuzun, H. (2005). Making learning fun: Quest Atlantis, a game without guns. Journal of Educational Technology Research & Development, 53 (1), 86-107. 2 Chen, C. J. (2006). The design, development and evaluation of a virtual reality based learning environment. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 22 (1), 39-63. 3 Chen, I. Y. L., Chen, N., & Kinshuk (2009). Examining the factors influencing participant’s knowledge sharing behavior in virtual learning communities. Educational Technology & Society, 112 (1), 134-148. 4 Dalgarno, B. & Harper, B. (2004). User control over and task authenticity for spatial learning in3D environments. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 20 (1), 1-17. 5 Falloon, G. (2010). Using avatars and virtual environments in learning: What do they have to offer? British Journal of Educational Technology, 41 (1), 108-122. 6 Freitas, S., Rebolledo-Mendez, G., Liarokapis, F., Magoulas, G., & Poulovassilis, A. (2010). Learning as immersive experiences: Using the four-dimensional framework for designing and evaluating immersive learning experiences in a virtual world. British Journal of Educational Technology, 41 (1), 69-85.

34. 7 Hughes, J. E., McLeod, S., Brown, R., Maeda, Y., & Choi, J. (2007). Academic achievement and perceptions of the learning environment in virtual and traditional secondary athematics classrooms. The American Journal of Distance Education, 21 (4), 199-214. 8 Hwang, W., Su, J. & Dong, J. (2009). A study of multi-representation of geometry solving with virtual manipulatives and whiteboard system. Educational Technology and Society, 12 (3), 229-247. 9 Johnson-Glenberg, M. C., Birchfield, D., & Usyal, S. (2009). SMALLab: virtual geology studies using embodied learning with motion, sound, and graphics. Educational Media International, 46 (4), 267-280. 10 McBrien, L., Jones, P., & Cheng, R. (2009). Virtual spaces: Employing a synchronous online classroom to facilitate student engagement in online learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10 (3). 11 Mennecke, B., Hassall, L. M. & Triplett, J. (2008, September). The mean business of Second Life: Teaching entrepreneurship, technology and e-Commerce in immersive environments. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 4 (3). 12 Qing Yu, J., Brown, D. J., & Billett, E. (2007). Design of virtual tutoring agents for a virtual biology experiment. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning, (1), 1-6.

35. 13 Reid, K. M., Aqui, Y., & Putney, L. G. (2009). Evaluation of an evolving virtual high school. Educational Media International, 46 (4), 281-294. 14 Swan, A. E., & O’Donnell, A. M. (2009, November). Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 46 (4), 405–419. 15 Wang, H., Gould, L., & Fulton, D. (2007, March). Bridge the virtual gap: Using new technology to enhance interaction in distance learning. International Journal of Instructional Technology, 4 (3), 1-8.