Aiding Learning Efficiency in Virtual Worlds

Whilst students may find Educational Virtual World (EVWs) more visually appealing and enjoyable than reading the theory in a textbook, using an EVW does not guarantee learning. The exploratory and experiential nature that potentially can enhance learning, can also lack structure or apparent purpose and may not achieve the intended learning outcomes. This paper reports a study that sought to understand whether navigational tips based on patterns in navigation paths to predict student performance, measured by recall for events and material encountered in the EVW, would be useful to provide timely hints or encouragement to improve performance and/or make learning more efficient.