Gender-Related Differences in Collaborative Learning in a 3D Virtual Reality Environment by Elementary School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to understand how children collaborated to create their own stories in a 3D virtual reality (VR) environment and to explore whether there were any gender-related differences in this learning setting. A total of 65 students (38 females and 27 males) of grades 4-5 participated in this study. A qualitative methodology was adopted in this research to answer three research questions about how the participants work collaboratively, whether a gender difference exists in the process of 3D construction and how they think about learning in a 3D virtual environment. Based on the behavior patterns of these participants in a 3D world, the research findings revealed two types of collaboration: a team either with or a team without a strong leader. In addition, gender-related differences in this learning environment were also depicted in this study.

Keywords

• 3d virtual environment
• collaborative learning
• gender-related differences