Denise Wood | University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia (original) (raw)
Papers by Denise Wood
Description Virtual worlds (VWs) continue to be used extensively in Australia and New Zealand hig... more Description Virtual worlds (VWs) continue to be used extensively in Australia and New Zealand higher education institutions although the tendency towards making unrealistic claims of efficacy and popularity appears to be over. Some educators at higher education institutions continue to use VWs in the same way as they have done in the past; others are exploring a range of different VWs or using them in new ways; whilst some are opting out altogether. This paper presents an overview of how 46 educators from some 26 ...
Three-dimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs), such as Second Life, have been used in ... more Three-dimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs), such as Second Life, have been used in education for some time. Although many writers have addressed where, how, and why 3DVLEs are applied in education, only a few articles have concentrated on the coalface of running a learning project within them. This paper looks at the experience of using Second Life to conduct a multi-discipline healthcare role-playing project with a large cohort of university students. It aims to add to the body of evidence highlighting the technical and logistical difficulties in running such a project, and attempts to offer solutions and advice on directions of problem solving. This paper will also add to best practices concerning the use of 3DVLEs in higher education.
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2012
The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic, and Social Sustainability: Annual Review, 2007
The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, 2009
Applying Dynamic Elements to the Modern Classroom
Abstract This chapter describes the benefits as well as the unanticipated challenges in engaging ... more Abstract This chapter describes the benefits as well as the unanticipated challenges in engaging undergraduates in immersive experiences within the 3D virtual environment, Second Life. The chapter draws on trials of three undergraduate courses in which students attended virtual classes and undertook media-related activities in Second Life. International experts conducted synchronous virtual guest presentations in all three courses. Media arts students designed immersive games using Second Life tools and the final-year students ...
Authentic Virtual World Education, 2017
The history of the application of technologies to support learning and teaching long predates the... more The history of the application of technologies to support learning and teaching long predates the emergence of virtual worlds as immersive platforms for engaging students in authentic, culturally diverse experiential learning activities.
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2009
There is considerable interest in the teaching and research nexus internationally as evidenced by... more There is considerable interest in the teaching and research nexus internationally as evidenced by the growing body of literature documenting the potential benefits of introducing research in the undergraduate curriculum and engaging students in research activities designed to foster active learning and problem-solving, as well as the generation of new knowledge. While case studies reporting the benefits of strengthening the teaching and research nexus in the undergraduate curriculum are well documented, studies reporting ...
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2012
The Australian Government's widening participation agenda-also referred to as the social inclusio... more The Australian Government's widening participation agenda-also referred to as the social inclusion agenda-considers equity through the triple focus of access, participation and outcomes. These foci are catalysts for reexamining teaching and learning approaches in formal education. This article considers this national refocus and the possibilities for addressing access and equity issues through and within threedimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs). The findings of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC)-funded project that investigated the potential of an accessible 3DVLE for increasing access and participation of students with disabilities are reported, and strategies for improving outcomes (i.e. retention, success and completion) proposed. The article also highlights some of the remaining challenges with regard to the goal of improving outcomes for under-represented learner groups. The final section of the article identifies areas for further research.
Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 2015
First Monday, 2015
The focus on inclusive approaches to higher education and increasing availability of educational ... more The focus on inclusive approaches to higher education and increasing availability of educational technologies designed to enhance student communication and collaboration has led to new opportunities for widening participation and improving the learning outcomes of students from diverse backgrounds. However, despite the potential, the principles of inclusive education are often applied in ways that serve to further disenfranchise the very students the approach seeks to support. This paper draws on research undertaken through funding support provided by the Australian Government, Office for Learning and Teaching in presenting the case for teachers to adapt their learning and teaching strategies to address an increasingly diverse student population and to adopt more transformative pedagogical approaches to engaging all students with “difference”. This paper explores issues of particular relevance to the design of technology enhanced learning that is inclusive of the diverse needs of hi...
The emergence of any new educational technology is often accompanied by inflated expectations abo... more The emergence of any new educational technology is often accompanied by inflated expectations about its potential for transforming pedagogical practice and improving student learning outcomes. A critique of the rhetoric accompanying the evolution of 3D virtual world education reveals a similar pattern, with the initial hype based more on rhetoric than research demonstrating the extent to which rhetoric matches reality. Addressed are the perceived gaps in the literature through a critique of the rhetoric evident throughout the evolution of the application of virtual worlds in education and the reality based on the reported experiences of experts in the field of educational technology, who are all members of the Australian and New Zealand Virtual Worlds Working Group. The experiences reported highlight a range of effective virtual world collaborative and communicative teaching experiences conducted in members' institutions. Perspectives vary from those whose reality is the actuati...
ICST Transactions on e-Education and e-Learning, 2011
Increasing access to Information Communication Technologies and a growing awareness of the import... more Increasing access to Information Communication Technologies and a growing awareness of the importance of digital media literacy have led many educators to seek innovative solutions to harness the enthusiasm of 'net gen' learners while also enhancing their ability to collaborate, communicate and problem solve augmented by digital technologies. One of the emergent trends in response to these demands has been the shift away from traditional models of teaching to more flexible approaches such as the use of multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs) designed to facilitate a more collaborative and participatory approach to student learning. At the same time, international initiatives such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, Education for All and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have highlighted the importance of ensuring that such teaching and learning environments are inclusive of students with diverse needs. Many universities are also responding to a widening participation agenda; a policy focus which aims to increase both the access and success rates of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Educational technology has long been regarded as a means by which students who may be isolated by disability, geographical location and/or social circumstances can gain access to such learning opportunities. The growth in the use of MUVEs combined with increasing access to mobile communications opens up new opportunities for engaging students from diverse backgrounds through virtual learning environments. Yet despite the potential, there are many challenges in ensuring that the very students who are most able to benefit from such e-learning technologies are not further disadvantaged by a lack of attention to both the technical and pedagogical considerations required in the design of inclusive e-learning environments. This paper reports on the findings of research funded through an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Grant, which aims to increase the opportunities for learners to participate more fully in education through an accessible multiuser virtual learning environment. The paper draws on ethnographic research, trials of undergraduate courses and a framework that can guide educators and designers in developing curricula that maximises the pedagogical affordances of e-learning technologies such as MUVEs, while also addressing the needs of diverse learners.
Applying Dynamic Elements to the Modern Classroom
Over a four-week period students enrolled in a second-year visual theatre course at the Universit... more Over a four-week period students enrolled in a second-year visual theatre course at the University of South Australia attempted to stage the online virtual world Second Life in a conventional proscenium arch theatre. The Staging Second Life project played upon the liminal space between ‘real’ and digital, and gave the students the opportunity to transpose a virtual world into a theatrical setting. The students actively played between these two media in turn becoming intermedialists. Within the hypermedium of the theatre they were able to remediate the conventions of Second Life via their bodies and manipulation of objects. The project reflects a growing trend in performance pedagogy where technology and new ways of thinking about its applications are increasingly integrated into the curriculum. This chapter describes the practical aspects of the course as well as the emergent theory of intermediality underpinning the Staging Second Life project.
There has been an explosive growth in the use of the Internet as a social networking tool and as ... more There has been an explosive growth in the use of the Internet as a social networking tool and as a major venue for leisure and recreation among children and young people. It is not known whether children with disabilities are using the new medium for similar purposes. The aim of this project was to investigate the current patterns and frequency of Internet use and its impact, facilitators and barriers to use by children and young people with physical disabilities. Fifteen participants with physical disabilities with a mean age of 14.6 years were interviewed exploring the above issues. The research found the young people who participated in this study used the Internet for a variety of purposes and friends played a key role in teaching them Internet skills as well as interacting with them online. Family resources and the computer/Internet literacy skills of parents were significant factors influencing usage. The findings suggest the need for further research involving a larger cohort of children and young people with varying abilities, especially those who are currently not using the Internet, to explore reasons for not using the Internet, and to identify the supports required to increase access and participation.
Outlooks and Opportunities in Blended and Distance Learning
Formal off-campus flexible learning has been a feature of higher education since the 19th century... more Formal off-campus flexible learning has been a feature of higher education since the 19th century. The introduction of various educational technologies over the years has provided additional opportunities for learners to undertake courses offered anytime and in any location, providing greater flexibility for the development of cost-effective learner-centred curricula. With the emergence of 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life in 2003, educators are quick to realise the potential of such immersive environments to extend the flexible learner-centred approaches that have been a feature of off-campus learning over the decades. However, the benefits of technology-enhanced learning can be contradictory and incompatible and can both widen and reduce access to education. Despite the proliferation of articles attesting to the benefits of teaching in virtual worlds such as Second Life, until relatively recently, there has been a lack of empirical evidence reporting on the learning outcomes for students participating in these virtual learning sessions. Good pedagogical practices must be taken into consideration when educating in a
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2010
The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 perce... more The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 percent of Australian homes at an estimated cost of $43b. This article looks at how it came to abandon an earlier plan for fibre-to-the-node network at a fraction of the cost, at how the technical development and rollout plans for the project are progressing, at the political hurdles it must still surmount and at what the Federal Opposition might do should an election derail the Government's plan. The article also examines legislation the government is trying to push through that would drastically restructure Telstra and which it is using this to try and negotiate Telstra's participation in the new network. YOU ARE HERE On 7 April 2009 the Australian Labor Government dropped a bombshell on the telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2010
The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 perce... more The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 percent of Australian homes at an estimated cost of $43b. This article looks at how it came to abandon an earlier plan for fibre-to-the-node network at a fraction of the cost, at how the technical development and rollout plans for the project are progressing, at the political hurdles it must still surmount and at what the Federal Opposition might do should an election derail the Government's plan. The article also examines legislation the government is trying to push through that would drastically restructure Telstra and which it is using this to try and negotiate Telstra's participation in the new network. YOU ARE HERE On 7 April 2009 the Australian Labor Government dropped a bombshell on the telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2013
The Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize papers The role of public procurement in improving acces... more The Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize papers The role of public procurement in improving accessibility to ICT Gunela Astbrink, William Tibben 'They think I'm really cool and nice': The impact of Internet support on the social networks and loneliness of young people with disabilities
Description Virtual worlds (VWs) continue to be used extensively in Australia and New Zealand hig... more Description Virtual worlds (VWs) continue to be used extensively in Australia and New Zealand higher education institutions although the tendency towards making unrealistic claims of efficacy and popularity appears to be over. Some educators at higher education institutions continue to use VWs in the same way as they have done in the past; others are exploring a range of different VWs or using them in new ways; whilst some are opting out altogether. This paper presents an overview of how 46 educators from some 26 ...
Three-dimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs), such as Second Life, have been used in ... more Three-dimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs), such as Second Life, have been used in education for some time. Although many writers have addressed where, how, and why 3DVLEs are applied in education, only a few articles have concentrated on the coalface of running a learning project within them. This paper looks at the experience of using Second Life to conduct a multi-discipline healthcare role-playing project with a large cohort of university students. It aims to add to the body of evidence highlighting the technical and logistical difficulties in running such a project, and attempts to offer solutions and advice on directions of problem solving. This paper will also add to best practices concerning the use of 3DVLEs in higher education.
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2012
The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic, and Social Sustainability: Annual Review, 2007
The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations: Annual Review, 2009
Applying Dynamic Elements to the Modern Classroom
Abstract This chapter describes the benefits as well as the unanticipated challenges in engaging ... more Abstract This chapter describes the benefits as well as the unanticipated challenges in engaging undergraduates in immersive experiences within the 3D virtual environment, Second Life. The chapter draws on trials of three undergraduate courses in which students attended virtual classes and undertook media-related activities in Second Life. International experts conducted synchronous virtual guest presentations in all three courses. Media arts students designed immersive games using Second Life tools and the final-year students ...
Authentic Virtual World Education, 2017
The history of the application of technologies to support learning and teaching long predates the... more The history of the application of technologies to support learning and teaching long predates the emergence of virtual worlds as immersive platforms for engaging students in authentic, culturally diverse experiential learning activities.
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2009
There is considerable interest in the teaching and research nexus internationally as evidenced by... more There is considerable interest in the teaching and research nexus internationally as evidenced by the growing body of literature documenting the potential benefits of introducing research in the undergraduate curriculum and engaging students in research activities designed to foster active learning and problem-solving, as well as the generation of new knowledge. While case studies reporting the benefits of strengthening the teaching and research nexus in the undergraduate curriculum are well documented, studies reporting ...
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2012
The Australian Government's widening participation agenda-also referred to as the social inclusio... more The Australian Government's widening participation agenda-also referred to as the social inclusion agenda-considers equity through the triple focus of access, participation and outcomes. These foci are catalysts for reexamining teaching and learning approaches in formal education. This article considers this national refocus and the possibilities for addressing access and equity issues through and within threedimensional virtual learning environments (3DVLEs). The findings of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC)-funded project that investigated the potential of an accessible 3DVLE for increasing access and participation of students with disabilities are reported, and strategies for improving outcomes (i.e. retention, success and completion) proposed. The article also highlights some of the remaining challenges with regard to the goal of improving outcomes for under-represented learner groups. The final section of the article identifies areas for further research.
Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 2015
First Monday, 2015
The focus on inclusive approaches to higher education and increasing availability of educational ... more The focus on inclusive approaches to higher education and increasing availability of educational technologies designed to enhance student communication and collaboration has led to new opportunities for widening participation and improving the learning outcomes of students from diverse backgrounds. However, despite the potential, the principles of inclusive education are often applied in ways that serve to further disenfranchise the very students the approach seeks to support. This paper draws on research undertaken through funding support provided by the Australian Government, Office for Learning and Teaching in presenting the case for teachers to adapt their learning and teaching strategies to address an increasingly diverse student population and to adopt more transformative pedagogical approaches to engaging all students with “difference”. This paper explores issues of particular relevance to the design of technology enhanced learning that is inclusive of the diverse needs of hi...
The emergence of any new educational technology is often accompanied by inflated expectations abo... more The emergence of any new educational technology is often accompanied by inflated expectations about its potential for transforming pedagogical practice and improving student learning outcomes. A critique of the rhetoric accompanying the evolution of 3D virtual world education reveals a similar pattern, with the initial hype based more on rhetoric than research demonstrating the extent to which rhetoric matches reality. Addressed are the perceived gaps in the literature through a critique of the rhetoric evident throughout the evolution of the application of virtual worlds in education and the reality based on the reported experiences of experts in the field of educational technology, who are all members of the Australian and New Zealand Virtual Worlds Working Group. The experiences reported highlight a range of effective virtual world collaborative and communicative teaching experiences conducted in members' institutions. Perspectives vary from those whose reality is the actuati...
ICST Transactions on e-Education and e-Learning, 2011
Increasing access to Information Communication Technologies and a growing awareness of the import... more Increasing access to Information Communication Technologies and a growing awareness of the importance of digital media literacy have led many educators to seek innovative solutions to harness the enthusiasm of 'net gen' learners while also enhancing their ability to collaborate, communicate and problem solve augmented by digital technologies. One of the emergent trends in response to these demands has been the shift away from traditional models of teaching to more flexible approaches such as the use of multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs) designed to facilitate a more collaborative and participatory approach to student learning. At the same time, international initiatives such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, Education for All and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have highlighted the importance of ensuring that such teaching and learning environments are inclusive of students with diverse needs. Many universities are also responding to a widening participation agenda; a policy focus which aims to increase both the access and success rates of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Educational technology has long been regarded as a means by which students who may be isolated by disability, geographical location and/or social circumstances can gain access to such learning opportunities. The growth in the use of MUVEs combined with increasing access to mobile communications opens up new opportunities for engaging students from diverse backgrounds through virtual learning environments. Yet despite the potential, there are many challenges in ensuring that the very students who are most able to benefit from such e-learning technologies are not further disadvantaged by a lack of attention to both the technical and pedagogical considerations required in the design of inclusive e-learning environments. This paper reports on the findings of research funded through an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Grant, which aims to increase the opportunities for learners to participate more fully in education through an accessible multiuser virtual learning environment. The paper draws on ethnographic research, trials of undergraduate courses and a framework that can guide educators and designers in developing curricula that maximises the pedagogical affordances of e-learning technologies such as MUVEs, while also addressing the needs of diverse learners.
Applying Dynamic Elements to the Modern Classroom
Over a four-week period students enrolled in a second-year visual theatre course at the Universit... more Over a four-week period students enrolled in a second-year visual theatre course at the University of South Australia attempted to stage the online virtual world Second Life in a conventional proscenium arch theatre. The Staging Second Life project played upon the liminal space between ‘real’ and digital, and gave the students the opportunity to transpose a virtual world into a theatrical setting. The students actively played between these two media in turn becoming intermedialists. Within the hypermedium of the theatre they were able to remediate the conventions of Second Life via their bodies and manipulation of objects. The project reflects a growing trend in performance pedagogy where technology and new ways of thinking about its applications are increasingly integrated into the curriculum. This chapter describes the practical aspects of the course as well as the emergent theory of intermediality underpinning the Staging Second Life project.
There has been an explosive growth in the use of the Internet as a social networking tool and as ... more There has been an explosive growth in the use of the Internet as a social networking tool and as a major venue for leisure and recreation among children and young people. It is not known whether children with disabilities are using the new medium for similar purposes. The aim of this project was to investigate the current patterns and frequency of Internet use and its impact, facilitators and barriers to use by children and young people with physical disabilities. Fifteen participants with physical disabilities with a mean age of 14.6 years were interviewed exploring the above issues. The research found the young people who participated in this study used the Internet for a variety of purposes and friends played a key role in teaching them Internet skills as well as interacting with them online. Family resources and the computer/Internet literacy skills of parents were significant factors influencing usage. The findings suggest the need for further research involving a larger cohort of children and young people with varying abilities, especially those who are currently not using the Internet, to explore reasons for not using the Internet, and to identify the supports required to increase access and participation.
Outlooks and Opportunities in Blended and Distance Learning
Formal off-campus flexible learning has been a feature of higher education since the 19th century... more Formal off-campus flexible learning has been a feature of higher education since the 19th century. The introduction of various educational technologies over the years has provided additional opportunities for learners to undertake courses offered anytime and in any location, providing greater flexibility for the development of cost-effective learner-centred curricula. With the emergence of 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life in 2003, educators are quick to realise the potential of such immersive environments to extend the flexible learner-centred approaches that have been a feature of off-campus learning over the decades. However, the benefits of technology-enhanced learning can be contradictory and incompatible and can both widen and reduce access to education. Despite the proliferation of articles attesting to the benefits of teaching in virtual worlds such as Second Life, until relatively recently, there has been a lack of empirical evidence reporting on the learning outcomes for students participating in these virtual learning sessions. Good pedagogical practices must be taken into consideration when educating in a
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2010
The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 perce... more The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 percent of Australian homes at an estimated cost of $43b. This article looks at how it came to abandon an earlier plan for fibre-to-the-node network at a fraction of the cost, at how the technical development and rollout plans for the project are progressing, at the political hurdles it must still surmount and at what the Federal Opposition might do should an election derail the Government's plan. The article also examines legislation the government is trying to push through that would drastically restructure Telstra and which it is using this to try and negotiate Telstra's participation in the new network. YOU ARE HERE On 7 April 2009 the Australian Labor Government dropped a bombshell on the telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2010
The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 perce... more The Australian Government has committed to build a fibre-to-the-premises network serving 90 percent of Australian homes at an estimated cost of $43b. This article looks at how it came to abandon an earlier plan for fibre-to-the-node network at a fraction of the cost, at how the technical development and rollout plans for the project are progressing, at the political hurdles it must still surmount and at what the Federal Opposition might do should an election derail the Government's plan. The article also examines legislation the government is trying to push through that would drastically restructure Telstra and which it is using this to try and negotiate Telstra's participation in the new network. YOU ARE HERE On 7 April 2009 the Australian Labor Government dropped a bombshell on the telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications Journal of Australia, 2013
The Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize papers The role of public procurement in improving acces... more The Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize papers The role of public procurement in improving accessibility to ICT Gunela Astbrink, William Tibben 'They think I'm really cool and nice': The impact of Internet support on the social networks and loneliness of young people with disabilities