Australian higher education institutions transforming the future of teaching and learning through 3d virtual worlds

What are educators motivations for using virtual worlds with their students? Are they using them to support the teaching of professions and if this is the case, do they introduce virtual worlds into the curriculum to develop and/or expand students' professional learning networks? Are they using virtual worlds to transform their teaching and learning? In recognition of the exciting opportunities that virtual worlds present for higher education, the DEHub Virtual Worlds Working Group was formed. It is made up of Australian university academics who are investigating the role that virtual worlds will play in the future of education and actively implementing the technology within their own teaching practice and curricula. This paper presents a typology for teaching and learning in 3D virtual worlds and applies the typology to a series of case studies based on the ways in which academics and their institutions are exploiting the power of virtual worlds for diverse purposes ranging from business scenarios and virtual excursions to role-play, experimentation and language development. The case studies offer insight into the ways in which institutions are transforming their teaching for an unknown future through innovative teaching and learning in virtual worlds. The paper demonstrates how virtual worlds enable low cost alternatives to existing pedagogies as well as creating opportunities for rich, immersive and authentic activities that would otherwise not be feasible or maybe not even be possible. Through the use of virtual worlds, teaching and learning can be transformed to cater for an unknown future. © 2010 Sue Gregory, Mark J.W. Lee, Allan Ellis, Brent Gregory, Denise Wood, Mathew Hillier, Matthew Campbell, Jenny Grenfell, Steven Pace, Helen Farley, Angela Thomas, Andrew Cram, Suku Sinnappan, Kerrie Smith, Lyn Hay, Shannon Kennedy-Clark, Ian Warren, Scott Grant, David Craven, Heinz Dreher, Carol Matthews, Deborah Murdoch & Lindy McKeown. © 2010 Sue Gregory, Mark J.W. Lee, Allan Ellis, Brent Gregory, Denise Wood, Mathew Hillier, Matthew Campbell, Jenny Grenfell, Steven Pace, Helen Farley, Angela Thomas, Andrew Cram, Suku Sinnappan, Kerrie Smith, Lyn Hay, Shannon Kennedy-Clark, Ian Warren, Scott Grant, David Craven, Heinz Dreher, Carol Matthews, Deborah Murdoch & Lindy McKeown

How are Australian higher education institutions contributing to change through innovative teaching and learning in virtual worlds?

Over the past decade, teaching and learning in virtual worlds has been at the forefront of many higher education institutions around the world. The DEHub Virtual Worlds Working Group (VWWG) consisting of Australian and New Zealand higher education academics was formed in 2009. These educators are investigating the role that virtual worlds play in the future of education and actively changing the direction of their own teaching practice and curricula. 47 academics reporting on 28 Australian higher education institutions present an overview of how they have changed directions through the effective use of virtual worlds for diverse teaching and learning activities such as business scenarios and virtual excursions, role-play simulations, experimentation and language development. The case studies offer insights into the ways in which institutions are continuing to change directions in their teaching to meet changing demands for innovative teaching, learning and research in virtual worlds. This paper highlights the ways in which the authors are using virtual worlds to create opportunities for rich, immersive and authentic activities that would be difficult or not possible to achieve through more traditional approaches. © 2011 Brent Gregory, Sue Gregory, Denise Wood, Yvonne Masters, Mathew Hillier, Frederick Stokes-Thompson, Anton Bogdanovych, Des Butler, Lyn Hay, Jay Jay Jegathesan, Kim Flintoff, Stefan Schutt,Dale Linegar, Robyn Alderton, Andrew Cram, Ieva Stupans, Lindy McKeown Orwin, Grant Meredith, Debbie McCormick, Francesca Collins, Jenny Grenfell, Jason Zagami, Allan Ellis, Lisa Jacka, Angela Thomas, Helen Farley, Nona Muldoon, Ali Abbas, Suku Sinnappan, Katrina Neville, Ian Burnett, Ashley Aitken, Simeon Simoff, Sheila Scutter, Xiangyu Wang, Kay Souter, David Ellis, Mandy Salomon, Greg Wadley, Michael Jacobson, Anne Newstead, Gary Hayes, Scott Grant, Alyona Yusupova

The time controlled clustering algorithm for optimised data dissemination in Wireless Sensor Networks

As the communication task is a significant power consumer, there are many attempts to improve energy efficiency. Node clustering, to reduce direct transmission to the base station, is one such attempt to control data dissemination. Here, we derived the optimal number of clusters for TCCA clustering algorithm based on a realistic energy model using results in stochastic geometry

A configurable time-controlled clustering algorithm for wireless sensor networks

Future large-scale sensor networks may comprise thousands of wirelessly connected sensor nodes that could provide an unimaginable opportunity to interact with physical phenomena in real time. These nodes are typically highly resource-constrained. Since the communication task is a significant power consumer, there are various attempts to introduce energy-awareness at different levels within the communication stack. Clustering is one such attempt to control energy dissipation for sensor data routing. Here, we propose the time-controlled clustering algorithm to realise a network-wide energy reduction by the rotation of clusterhead role, and the consideration of residual energy in its election. A realistic energy model is derived to accurately quantify the network\u27s energy consumption using the proposed clustering algorithm

An Adaptive Data Dissemination Strategy for Wireless Sensor Networks

Future large-scale sensor networks may comprise thousands of wirelessly connected sensor nodes that could provide an unimaginable opportunity to interact with physical phenomena in real time. However, the nodes are typically highly resource-constrained. Since the communication task is a significant power consumer, various attempts have been made to introduce energy-awareness at different levels within the communication stack. Clustering is one such attempt to control energy dissipation for sensor data dissemination in a multihop fashion. The Time-Controlled Clustering Algorithm (TCCA) is proposed to realize a network-wide energy reduction. A realistic energy dissipation model is derived probabilistically to quantify the sensor network's energy consumption using the proposed clustering algorithm. A discrete-event simulator is developed to verify the mathematical model and to further investigate TCCA in other scenarios. The simulator is also extended to include the rest of the communication stack to allow a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed algorithm

An Examination of Website Quality Dimensions in Australian e-Retailing: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach

Numerous studies have endeavored to create and develop Website quality instruments in both the information systems and marketing domains. This study contributes to further theory development and refinement of measuring Website Quality by extending previous studies in the field. It adopts a confirmatory factor analysis approach to empirically assess three Australian based e-retailing Websites across three industry groups. The study presents a parsimonious model for each industry examined, that can be used for benchmarking purposes and for future scholarly research efforts. Managerial implications are highlighted with future research directions discussed

A Framework for Modelling the Determinants of e-Loyalty in Business-to-Consumer Internet Commerce

The issue of measuring the relationship between e-service quality to develop e-loyalty has emerged as an area of strategic importance in the information systems and marketing literature in recent times. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for measuring the determinants of e-loyalty1 that includes e-service quality, e- satisfaction2, e-value3 and Internet expertise. It is hypothesized that the quality of a Website can contribute to strengthening attitudinal and behavioural outcomes that ultimately enhance consumer relationships. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that Internet expertise moderates the impact on the proposed direct relationships. Resultant research hypotheses are explored with reference to the theoretical framework. Managerial implications are highlighted with potential research areas identified and discussed

The time-controlled clustering algorithm for optimized data dissemination in wireless sensor networks

As the communication task is a significant power consumer, there are many attempts to improve energy efficiency. Node clustering, to reduce direct transmission to the base station, is one such attempt to control data dissemination. Here, we derived the optimal number of clusters for TCCA clustering algorithm based on a realistic energy model using results in stochastic geometry