Multi-User Virtual Environments for Education: A European Experience

Multi-user virtual environments have been mostly used for leisure or entertainment applications. Politecnico di Milano (Italy) has experienced the delivery of innovative educational services, based on multi-user virtual environments, with subjects ranging from “Dead Sea Scrolls” to European history. The different services have been delivered to nearly 10,000 students in 17 countries. The most recent one is Learning@Europe, L@E (www.learningateurope.net); it has been delivered, so far, to more than 5,000 students and it is scheduled to become a permanent self-sustained service to European schools.The educational paradigm of L@E includes a variety of factors, implying both synchronous and asynchronous cooperation; the most glamorous one is surely the MultiUser-Virtual environment, MUV, where students from remote locations meet for synchronous collaboration. The educational impact of L@E goes beyond expectation (with more than 95% of teachers satisfied), and covers knowledge acquisition, skills sharpening and modification of attitudes.This paper describes the overall approach (section 1), the virtual environment (section 2) and the pedagogical impact (section 3). The conclusions (section 4) focus upon understanding how and why the overall approach of L@E is effective and the role of the MUV in this effectiveness.