The effects of simulation participation on the perception of threatening cultural dynamics in a collaborative virtual learning environment

Findings indicate that, on the subject of power, participants in the computer-mediated, collaborative, inter-cultural DomeCityMOO (Multi-user dimension, Object-Oriented) simulation perceived its learning environment to be less threatening than did those who participated in the face-to-face Ecotonos simulation. Additionally, participants in the DomeCityMOO simulation perceived its environment as better for learning about identity and power differences than participants in the face-to face Ecotonos simulation.