Virtual Environments in Scholè : Beyond Learning

Abstract: This thesis explores the educational potential of virtual environments, which are computer-generated spaces that allow users to have a sense of presence and interaction with simulated worlds. In this thesis, I argue that virtual environments are not merely tools for learning specific skills or knowledge, but can also enable formative experiences that contribute to the purpose of education as understood by contemporary educational theorists. Using Masschelein & Simons’ concept of Scholè, which is a touchstone for the reinvention of school education, this thesis compares and contrasts different aspects of virtual environments with those of the scholastic. In order to do that, I propose a fictional virtual environment exclusively designed for formal education, called the Virtual Educational Environment (VEE), and discuss its possibilities and challenges. In doing so, I also suggest that virtual environments can be a global form of gathering that can augment physical classes, and call for more attention to their theoretical and practical implications for education.