3D Collaborative Virtual Environments: Exploring the Link between Collaborative Behaviors and Team Performance

Abstract

Increasingly, organizational work is conducted by virtual teams interacting across boundaries of space and time. Despite advances in collaborative technologies, members of virtual teams often find the experience challenging and a far cry from physically "being there." In response, immersive and interactive three-dimensional collaborative virtual environments (3D CVEs) are emerging and purported to address the shortcoming of earlier technologies. How teams will interact and ultimately perform in a 3D environment remains to be seen. In this study, drawing from group and communication theories, we explore the link between collaborative behaviors and the performance of virtual teams working in a 3D CVE. We report on the results of a controlled experiment consisting of 39 virtual teams of 91 individuals. Through cluster analysis, we identify distinct patterns of collaborative behaviors associated with differential levels of performance. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of how the unique spatial and visual characteristics of 3D CVEs may transform virtual work.

Collaborative E-Learning: Towards Designing an Innovative Architecture for an Educational Virtual Environment

“…It is also noteworthy that the existing e-learning system has some inherent weaknesses including the absence of "project-based" learning; and a focus on knowledge acquisition. Additionally, while there is a vast literature about several e-learning system architectures, most of the studies focus on re-creating traditional school education, and the use of new technologies to serve traditional learning models -rather than an environment giving clear insights into the innovative knowledge generation and articulation (Montoya et al, 2011).…”

“…Furthermore, the benefits of 3D graphics for education have been explored in the manufacturing industries, urban planning, entertainment, and military operations (Monahan.et.al. 2008;Lin et al;Montoya et al, 2011;Ryan et.al.2004;Manseur, 2005). The core point here is that the use of VR and 3D graphics for e-learning has now been extended by the provision of entire VR environments where learning takes place.…”

“…It should also be noted that the presentation of learning content to users in an integrative, interesting, and inspiring manner have great value-added benefits. Text-based learning content often leads to boredom and can prevent students from gaining a clear understanding of the subject matter (Montoya et al, 2011;Lin et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2004). The presentation of course content through multimedia techniques can be quite engaging to students in their learning activities.…”

“…The need for shifting from "technology-centric and instructor-centric" to "learner-centric" paradigms with a strong focus on constructivism Recent research studies (Montoya et al, 2011;Wolf et al, 2009;Gierlowski et al, 2009;Kanev et al, 2009;Beetham, 2005) demonstrate that traditional educational instructor -centered approaches need to be replaced with more active instruction. Instead of viewing knowledge as an arbitrary set of facts, knowledge needs to be constructed by the learner so it can be used as a tool for future learning activities.…”

“…Despite the existence of a vast literature covering e-learning system architectures, the author has found that most of the studies are focused on re-creating traditional education, and the use of new technologies serving traditional learning models-rather than an environment giving clear insights into the innovative knowledge generation and articulation. While considerable research has been undertaken in the area of networked virtual environments corresponding to sharing of events, very little research was done on specific services and functionality, (Montoya et al, 2011;Hamalmen, 2011). In this chapter, e-learning is viewed as an educational paradigm referring to the utilization of web-based technologies to deliver learning activities with the aim of enhancing knowledge and performance.…”