Experiences Complementing Classroom Teaching With Distance Seminars in Metaverses and Videos

Abstract

As a way of reinforcing classroom-based lessons, especially for continuous evaluation, we experimented with remote conferences and tutoring. These seminars were directed at three different groups of students: those who are struggling with the subject, those who were unable to attend all the lessons, and those seeking deeper insight. We experimented with different platforms for computer-assisted learning and with teaching through metaverses (Second Life and Open Sims). We experienced better results with the latter rather than with the platforms specially designed for computer-assisted learning. The metaverse sessions were also used as videos, recording the screen to later become part of the videos used for remote teaching. The sessions were also used to broadcast live conferences to people who were unable to attend them in person. A brief analysis was made of the videos' usefulness for teaching, combined with conferences, seminars through metaverses, etc.