ERIC_NO:
ED404987
TITLE:
Educational MOO: Text-Based Virtual Reality for Learning in Community. ERIC Digest.
AUTHOR:
Turbee, Lonnie
PUBLICATION_DATE:
1997
ABSTRACT:
MOO stands for "Multi-user domain, Object-Oriented." Early multi-user domains, or "MUDs," began as net-based dungeons-and-dragons type games,
but MOOs have evolved from these origins to become some of cyberspace's
most fascinating and engaging online communities. MOOs are social
environments in a text-based virtual reality where people gather to chat
with friends, meet new people, and help build the MOO. Users connect from
anywhere in the world and communicate with one another in real time. Users
can create rooms, objects, and programs that recreate in text anything
the user might imagine. Educational MOOs have an academic theme and use
a variety of MOO communication tools such as internal e-mail, newspapers,
documents, blackboards, and classrooms to accommodate a variety of teaching
styles. Teachers can use these tools in harmony with the goals for the
class while exploiting the nature of the MOO as a student-centered learning
environment. The paper provides: names, descriptions, and sites of some
educational MOOs suitable for learners of high school age and older; a
description of user roles on MOOs--guests, builders, programmers, wizards,
and archwizards; difficulties teachers may face when using a MOO; information
on how to get started; and guidelines for ensuring a positive experience
for both teachers and students. Resources for more information on educational
MOOs are provided. (SWC)
MAJOR_DESCRIPTORS:
Computer Mediated Communication; Computer Uses in Education; Electronic Text; Online Systems; Social Networks; Virtual Reality;
MINOR DESCRIPTORS:
Computer Software; Educational Media; High Schools; Higher Education; Internet; Programming; Student Centered Curriculum; Students; Teachers; Users (Information);
IDENTIFIERS:
Barriers to Participation; ERIC Digests; Learning Environments; *MOOs
PUBLICATION_TYPE:
071; 073