Abstract:

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) constitutes one of the most modern and effective tool in education. The appplications of 3D virtual worlds are used in order to create new opportunities for teaching and learning, allowing students to acquire a sense of presence similar to a real environment, to understand complex environments, situations and phenomena and to gain knowledge-building experiences. The purpose of the study is to describe collaborative learning techniques with application solutions in collaborative virtual environments, illustrating an educational scenario of collaborative learning in a 3D Virtual World. The conceptual framework for the proposed application is based on the principles of sociocultural and psychological learning theories. These theoritical approaches assist the students to promote collaborative learning and enhance cognitive problem solving and human creativity.

Keywords:

Virtual learning environments (VLEs), collaborative learning, problem solving, creativity.