Wosh --ALmost there!

At first, I found the game annoying but after a while I really got into it, perhaps it was because I really got into character. In some way, my avatar transformed me, and hence transformed my excitement and enthusiasm to play the game. I felt someone important in the game, I liked that I had to think about strategies to complete a quest, and at the end of the quest I felt satisfied. This was a motivational factor to continue playing. At the very beginning, first 10 levels, I could fight and complete quest on my own but soon after I realized that I need help. Not that my character was weak or incapable but because I could do a better job with a group. With several students agreeing to meet me online and not showing, my husband offered to meet me online. Well I began playing with him and it was just awesome! We came up with fighting strategies and really worked well as a team. Our communication improved as well.

Each session, I made sure I complete at least one quest. This is reason I leveled up fast. I started enjoying the game more as my levels increased. I liked the sense of community because at times of trouble passersby would stop and help and sometimes give you money and other items. The first 10 levels is a learning experience, I needed the tutorial book and the advice of an advance player (my husband). I liked that he explained some of the quest and strategies offline, so when it was time to play I had the knowledge I needed. I cant imagine getting through the game without reading the tutorial, help and seeking information form an expert player.

Research data has shown that students learn from the advanced learning environments compared to classroom lectures, however, empirical research on learning is conspicuously absent on some of these environments.

Virtual worlds give users the ability to:
--Complete tasks that could be difficult for them in the real world due to cost, time and distance.
--Interact and estalish communities for which they become a valuable member.
--engage in high level of cognitive functioning such as interpreting, analyzing, discovering, evaluating and problem solving.

Engaging learners at the development level puts the learners at the center of the design process to meet their needs more closely. Student engagement through audio, video, graphics and text based resources allow student to select resources based on their own informational needs.

References

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. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.gsu.edu:2640/pdf23_24/pdf/2010/58I/01Jan10/47051417.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=47051417&EbscoContent=dGJyMNXb4kSeqLI4xNvgOLCmr0iep7FSsai4S6%2BWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMOXp80m549%2BB7LH4S7errgAA&D=a9h