Collaboration in 3D Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments: Open Source vs. Proprietary Solutions

This paper focuses on Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments, examining the state of the art in both open source and proprietary software. Issues pertaining to the use of open source CVLEs are discussed and a collaborative learning activity in Second Life is presented. Evaluation results assess the appropriateness of the Second Life platform in executing collaborative learning scenarios, and reveal the students' reactions to a novel didactical approach.