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Enhancing primary school children collaborative learning experiences in maths via a 3D virtual environment

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Abstract

Over the last years there has been a growing use of 3D virtual environments for educational purposes. Many studies advocate the integration of these environments in the daily teaching practice of various subjects. This requires innovative design in order create the appropriate affective/ pedagogical conditions as well as the development and use of well-structured activities in order to achieve effective collaborative learning. This paper presents an exploratory study in which collaborative learning strategies and cognitive apprenticeship models act as the pedagogical framework to facilitate learning and collaboration. The context is the teaching of mathematics in primary education via a 3D virtual environment. Specifically, we focus on evaluating students’ engagement (behavioral, affective and cognitive) in the collaborative learning process as they learn fractional concepts in a meaningful way. The findings show that a 3D virtual environment can support collaborative learning in primary school through its ability to enhance students’ engagement (behavioral, affective and cognitive) in the collaborative learning process.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Fotini Paraskeva for her valuable contribution when designing and running this research study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technology Education and Digital Systems, University of Piraeus, 80 Karaoli & Dimitriou, 185 34, Piraeus, Greece

    Hara Bouta & Symeon Retalis

  2. 9 Vorra St., 153 42, Athens, Greece

    Hara Bouta

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  1. Hara Bouta
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  2. Symeon Retalis
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Correspondence to Hara Bouta.

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Bouta, H., Retalis, S. Enhancing primary school children collaborative learning experiences in maths via a 3D virtual environment. Educ Inf Technol 18, 571–596 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-012-9198-8

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