Gao, F., Noh, J.J. & Koehler, M.J. (2009). Comparing Role-playing Activities in Second Life and Face-to-Face Environments. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 20(4), 423-443. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/28180.
Journal of Interactive Learning Research
ISSN 1093-023X
Volume 20, Issue 4, October 2009
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) Chesapeake, VA
More Information on JILR
This study compared student performances in role-playing activities in both a face-to-face (FTF) environment and a virtual 3D environment, Second Life (SL). We found that students produced a similar amount of communication in the two environments, but the communication styles were different. In SL role-playing activities, students took more conversational turns, but had shorter exchanges compared to the FTF environment. Students generated an equal amount of topic-related concepts in the two environments. They also reported role-playing activities in SL as more interesting and less formal. The educational implications for this study are discussed.