Alex Week 4 - Literature Review

The potentials of virtual environments in the education and training of people with learning disabilities.

Cromby, J.J, Standen, P.J, Brown, D.J

Research aim:

To gather and review literature on the use of virtual environments in regard to education and training people with learning disabilities.

Research methods:

The research looks to achieve 5 different goals:

1.       Define virtual environments

2.       Draw on theories to why virtual environments may be valuable for people with learning disabilities

3.       Review existing research in the area

4.       Look into ethical concerns associated with virtual environments

5.       Chart future developments of virtual environments and their technologies.

Research Results:

Define virtual environments

Defining virtual environment proved to be quite difficult according to the study. It differs from cyber space and artificial reality so they looked to define it in a different way.

The study looked into what they felt were the three main aspects of a virtual environment.

Draw on theories to why virtual environments may be valuable for people with learning disabilities

The study points out how virtual environments are used in the air force, army, surgery and molecular studies and believes that the potential for virtual environments to be used in education could be massive. It could give people experiences and opportunities that would be unattainable through classic teaching methods.  

Look into ethical concerns associated with virtual environments

The major ethical concern outlined in the study is the fear that people become overly involved and attached to their environmental worlds causing them to become agitated and feel inferior to their virtual self. Another ethical problem is censorship and can and cant be seen.

Chart future developments of virtual environments and their technologies.

The research points out that the future if virtual environments isn’t based solely on technological advancements but also on our understanding and interactions towards these mediums. The research believes that virtual worlds and their technologies will not only help those who struggle to learn but also help people who are physically unwell. They also predict that virtual environment technology will become more readily accessible and be carried on one self at all times.

Conclusion:

The research concludes that virtual environments have massive potential in education and training of people with learning disabilities. The study looks positively at seemingly all aspects of virtual environments and looks forward to its use. However, the ethical issues and lack of research done into virtual worlds and its use in this particular way makes the researchers wary and believe more research must be done before it may be used within education and training of people with learning disabilities.

References:

Cromby, J.J, Standen, P.J, Brown, D.J. (1996) The potentials of virtual environments in the education and training of people with learning disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 40, 489-501