The document discusses the role of three dimensional virtual environments (3DVEs) like Second Life in developing personal learning networks (PLNs). It defines PLNs as informal networks of people that aim to learn from and contribute to each other's learning. The document presents research on how participation in groups within Second Life supports the creation and development of PLNs by providing networking opportunities, overcoming geographical barriers, and facilitating collaboration and resource sharing. It analyzes data that show how 3DVE group activities like discussions, skill-building tutorials, lectures, and social events help diffuse innovation and allow members to construct knowledge through their dynamic learning network.

1. The Role of Three Dimensional Virtual
Environments in the Development of Personal
Learning Networks
A. Nikolaou
Department of Education
University of the Aegean
Rhodes, Greece
C. Tsolakidis
Department of Education
University of the Aegean
Rhodes, Greece
2013

2. Personal Learning Networks
The development of digital technologies and the amount of
information needed for updating knowledge, raise the need
for managing personal and professional development.

3. PLN Definition

A network of people

Aiming to learn

Contributing to learning

With the guidance of some
members

Creating learning
opportunities, giving answers
to questions
The development of a PLN is based on personal choices
and is a network of connections based on needs

4. A PLN includes
the tools that facilitate
the networks
development
the people who
constitute the networks
personal relationships
contacts
Key elements that characterize the relationships developed
between members of the network are reciprocity and trust

5. 
They are not social
networks

They describe informal
learning habits and
create learning
opportunities

They have autonomous
structure created by
each person so as to
serve personal learning
needs and they are not
limited by collective
goals.
PLN and learning needs

6. Through the right contacts
and the tools, PLNs can
provide access to
excellence worldwide.
There is no collective
intention
Do not share a common
goal or a common field of
knowledge and interests
A PLN is formed as the
result of the individual
search of the person who
initially created it.
PLN characteristics

7. 3-D virtual environments

Multi-user environments
Use of avatar as virtual representative
Tool for synchronous and asynchronous communication
Tool for socialization and learning
Sense of sharing the same place
Sense of immersion
Co-presence
Interactivity
Realistic representation of the environment

8. Second Life
Immersive 3D Virtual environment
Created by its users
Customizable avatar
Access from anywhere and anytime
Access to desktop applications, web sites and
files
Collaborative features
Provides 3D objects building tools
Scripting language

10. Second Life characteristics

11. Creation of Groups in Second Life
Media for various activities
Carrying and communicating information
Allow people to share files and three-dimensional objects
Tools of mass communication
Facilitate the discovery of common interests
Help build virtual communities
Share files and three-dimensional objects
Provide links to other Internet applications
Update and manage the plethora of activities in SL

12. Groups integrated tools 1
Group Notices
Notifications
Notecards
3D objects sharing
Group chat channel
Group voice channel
Group Notices
Notecards
Inventory

13. Groups integrated tools 2

14. Methodology
In a fast developing
innovative field of research
the generally accepted
standards on methodology
cannot be applied.
A cyclical model survey of
online interviews was
chosen.

15. Presentation of research model by an American Education Research
Association ARVEL (Applied Research in Virtual Environments for
Learning) in SL

16. Research questions
Why do members of Groups use SL for the creation and
development of PLNs?
How does participation in SL Groups contributes to the
creation and development of PLNs?

17. Sample
Criteria
The participants
should be members of a
SL Group of training or
educational character
Groups should be
active during the
research
Researchers should
be able to communicate
with willing members of
the group (by email,
phone, presence in
social media, etc)
Lead to
Nonrandom sample
Members of
Virtual Worlds
Educators
Roundtable
VWER
Sample

18. The questionnaire was
sent to the group on
facebook VWER,
specifically to individuals
who reported participating
in recent events.
14 VWER members were
interviewed online
Online interviews

19. DATA ANALYSIS 1
Participation in Groups in SL creates:
networking opportunities with like-minded people
a sense of trust and acceptance
conditions for real communication and relationships
The key causes for the formation and development of PLN

20. Overcoming of geographical or time barriers

21. DATA ANALYSIS 2
Collaborative features
Support, assistance and mutual help provided to members
Facilitation of discussion
Overcoming of geographical or time barriers
Facilitation of people with impaired hearing or vision
Opportunity to multiple users to work together and edit the
same object simultaneously

22. Innovation diffusion
According to the theory of adoption and diffusion of
innovation SL Group members are “early adopters”
"The reason is that I am close to a group of people who are not
afraid to experiment, to explore, to overcome limits and restrictions
in order to discover the appropriate things for learning and teaching"
DATA ANALYSIS 3

23. Co-creation
Prim modeling
The inegrated tools that
are necessary to built
three-dimensional
objects, allow the
development of a suitable
learning environment to
meet the individual
requirements of users.
DATA ANALYSIS 4

24. Creating learning objects

25. 3D object building contests

26. Development of initiatives carried out by Groups that are
related to the adoption of innovative methods and techniques,
to realise goals set in real life:
Visits to museums (Sistine Chapel, Louvre, Toys Museum,
etc)
Collections (ancient Greek technology, computers, musical
instruments etc)
Galleries of modern art

27. Performances

28. Visits to museums or ancient sites

29. Guided tour to Maya's Island

30. 3D Interactive Art Installations

31. Art exhibitions and artistic events

32. 3D Interactive Art Installations

33. Social events

34. Experiential and collaborative activities organized by
Groups
Role playing
Treasure hunts
Touring in selected virtual educational sites
Three dimensional objects contests (buildings,
landscapes, virtual labs and interactive learning objects)
Foreign languages learning activities
Lectures
Conferences, seminars
Theatrical performances
Concerts, thematic musical events
Art exhibitions
Counseling
Events supporting the work of non-profit organizations
Virtual libraries activities

35. ISTE in Second Life

36. Lectures, workshops, seminars

37. Educational activities

38. “Happy Hippo” building tutorial area

39. 5th
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conferences 2012

40. 5th
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conferences 2012

41. Creating a dynamic learning network
contributes to:
sharing resources
content creation
feedback
construction of knowledge

42. SL Gproup members use
of integrated SL tools for connections

43. Discussion
The need for managing the renewed knowledge seems to
push participants to the quest of better ways for
approaching it
Change of the way in
which people adapt to
the new technological
environment
Need for acquiring
new skills and
Have access to new
educational resources
Drive into new
strategies for
learning
Beyond official
and
institutionalised
frameworks
PLN

44. The causes of use 1
The SL Group members
through their
participation in virtual
activities develop their
PLNs
become informed
update their
knowledge
find new opportunities
for learning

45. The causes of use 2
Have access in excellence of
their scientific field
develop contacts with like-
minded people
interact with their learning
environment
create frameworks of support
exchange educational resources
pioneer in diffusion of innovation
create learning networks
no geographical, time and
financial restrictions

46. Interactive learning environment

47. How participants use SL Groups
exchanging ideas
enhancing promotion
of good practices
sharing of educational
resources
collaborating in the
domains of their interests
approaching experts
helping, consulting
personal development

48. The impact of 3DVE on PLNs
Co-presence Networking
Social components of learning
3DV ENVIRONMENTS Sharing of
content
New culture of
social and
participatory
learning
Support non
formal learning
strategies
DEVELOP
PLNs

50. THAKNK YOU