{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T21:52:02Z","timestamp":1777499522262,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Informing Science Institute","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]],"date-time":"2018-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1514764800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JITE:IIP"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aim\/Purpose: This paper provides a general-purpose categorization scheme for assessing the utility of new and emerging three-dimensional interactive digital environments (3D-IDEs), along with specific pedagogic approaches that are known to work. It argues for the use of 3D-IDEs on the basis of their ludic appeal and ability to provide intrinsic motivation to the learner, and their openness that allows the learner to gain a more holistic understanding of a topic.\n\nBackground: Researchers have investigated the affordances, benefits, and drawbacks of individual 3D-IDEs, such as virtual worlds, but teachers lack a general-purpose approach to assessing new 3D-IDEs as they appear and applying them to teaching practice.\n\nMethodology: The categorization scheme is based on the analysis, reflection, and comprehension of the research on limitations, challenges, and opportunities for teaching in virtual environments by Angel Rueda, Valdes Godines and Guzm\u00e1n Flores; the scheme is discussed in terms of an experiment to trial virtual genetics labs in Second Life.\n\nContribution: The paper describes a general-purpose approach to applying existing and new 3D virtual spaces to education, shows a worked example of the use of the categories, and describes six approaches to consider in applying these technologies.\n\nFindings: 3D-IDEs are categorized in terms of the way in which they interface with the user\u2019s senses and their ability to provide \u2018immersion\u2019; two forms of immersion are examined: digital perceptual immersion \u2013 the generated sense of reality \u2013 and ludic narrative immersion \u2013 a less cognitive and more emotional engagement with the learning environment.\n\nRecommendations for Practitioners: Six specific forms of pedagogy appropriate for 3D-IDEs are examined and discussed, in terms of the affordances and technology required, as assessed by the categorization scheme. More broadly, the paper argues for a change in the assessment of new digital technologies from the technology\u2019s features to its affordances and the pedagogies it can support.\n\nRecommendation for Researchers: The paper offers a practical approach to choosing and using 3D-IDEs for education, based upon previous work. The next step is to trial the scheme with teachers to ascertain its ease of use and effectiveness.\n\nImpact on Society: The paper argues strongly for a new approach to teaching, where the learner is encouraged to use 3D-IDEs in a ludic manner in order to generate internal motivation to learn, and to explore the topic according to their individual learning needs in addition to the teacher\u2019s planned route through the learning material.\n\nFuture Research: The categorization scheme is intended to be applied to new technologies as they are introduced. Future research is needed to assess its effectiveness and if necessary update the scheme.\n\n<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.28945\/4056","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,30]],"date-time":"2018-05-30T00:20:40Z","timestamp":1527639640000},"page":"083-112","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Categorizing the Educational Affordances of 3 Dimensional Immersive Digital Environments"],"prefix":"10.28945","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4780-874X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"J \u00c1ngel Rueda","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Autonomous University of Quer\u00e9taro"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Juan","family":"C Vald\u00e9s God\u00ednes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Teaching in Technical Education (CIIDET)"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paul","family":"D Rudman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"paulrudman.com"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"11490","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018]]},"container-title":["Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.jite.org\/documents\/Vol17\/JITEv17IIPp083-112Rueda4582.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/www.jite.org\/documents\/Vol17\/JITEv17IIPp083-112Rueda4582.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"},{"URL":"http:\/\/www.jite.org\/documents\/Vol17\/JITEv17IIPp083-112Rueda4582.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2020,8,11]],"date-time":"2020-08-11T19:19:13Z","timestamp":1597173553000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.informingscience.org\/Publications\/4056"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018]]},"references-count":0,"alternative-id":["4056"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.28945\/4056","relation":{},"ISSN":["2165-3151","2165-316X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2165-3151","type":"print"},{"value":"2165-316X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018]]}}}