Taking virtual learning to Africa
UniSA virtual learning expert Dr Denise Wood and a team of international
researchers are undertaking research in South Africa focusing on strategies
for improving learning outcomes for children in developing countries.
Dr Wood and members of the research team including Professor Noel Lindsay from the University of Adelaide and Charles Morris (UniSA contract programmer) have recently returned from a follow-up visit to South Africa’s Limpopo and Gauteng provinces.
Dr Wood said the research team, which also includes Associate Professor Sheila Scutter from James Cook University, Dr Charles Kivunja from the University of New England and Janyth Ussery from Virtual Helping Hands Inc in the US, is undertaking a pilot study to measure the impact of 3D virtual learning environments on learning outcomes, learner motivation, creativity and the self-esteem of grade four learners from socially disadvantaged schools as well as special schools in South Africa.
“The team of researchers has confirmed that basic education in South Africa is under stress,” Dr Wood said.
“The reasons are complex and include the challenges associated with supporting 11 major official languages, large classroom sizes, low levels of teacher skill, social disadvantage often associated with low parent participation and poorly resourced schools.”
Dr Wood said the 3D virtual learning environment project aims to investigate the potential of constructivist learning.
“The 3D virtual learning environment is designed to engage learners in collaborative, creative problem-solving activities in which numeracy, literacy, life skills, entrepreneurship and creative activities are embedded in a motivating game-like environment,” she said.
“One unique feature of this learning style is that there is minimal intervention from teachers; the role of the teacher is one of facilitator and mentor supporting student-driven learning.
“These models have proved highly successful in many studies conducted around the world.”
Since their initial scoping visit undertaken in January 2011, the team has been adapting the 3D virtual learning environment to suit the needs of the South African context. Their follow-up visit in July was to install the software on the recently donated computers in each of the participating schools and to conduct teacher training. Dr Wood and the research team will return to South Africa in October to conduct baseline testing of the children and will be following-up at six monthly intervals to measure the impact of the learning innovation over a three year period.
Dr Denise Wood (standing) undertakesteacher training in South Africa.
Dr Wood and her team are encouraged by the commitment of the Gauteng and Limpopo Provincial governments, and local non-government organisations that have helped to fund the research, as well as the enthusiasm of the teachers who attended the training sessions in July.
Following her trip to South Africa in July, Dr Wood visited the University of Makerere in Uganda where she and Dr Charles Kivunja conducted training of academics on the effective use of 3D virtual learning technologies to motivate learners in multigrade classrooms. This is the first stage of a planned project, which will see the work undertaken in South Africa extended to Sub-Saharan countries.
The project is building on work already undertaken in Australia through the support of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council grant, and funding provided through UniSA's Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences Research Performance Fund.