Educational Potential of 3D Multi-User Virtual Environments

Abstract

The text focuses on the issue of 3D multi-user virtual environments and their use in education. In the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic, there was a worldwide need for a rapid transition in education at all levels of schooling and in lifelong learning to the online space. As this was a rapid organisational change, schools and lifelong learning institutions often found themselves in situations where tools not previously tested in the school were used, or online tools were used that did not lead to the desired effect. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate which types of online tools are most appropriate for education, depending on the age of the learners and the learning topic. This text analyses the educational potential of 3D multi-user virtual environments, which hold significant benefits for the application of basic didactic principles that bring significant advantages in terms of learning outcomes, in particular the principle of illustration, learning from simulated virtual experiences as well as direct contact with the learning community. The text concludes by discussing current perspectives on the effectiveness of these environments in the educational process.