E-Learning Cooperative Environments: Simulations and Virtual Labs as the New Frontiers of Inclusiveness and Immersiveness for Organizations

Virtual environments developed thanks to the use of advanced technologies, allow students to experience in a full and total way his/her learning and knowledge, from a subjective perspective, where multisensory interaction is provided. The social context of learning can be created from the content itself. If we can create social spaces on-line than in so far as disciplines connected with the social sciences are concerned, that content can be created as an interactive learning environments with unique, though simulated, social contexts for learning. The aim of this study was to investigate students' perceptions of simulations and role plays and how these tools, if well managed, offer a variety of powerful information sharing and collaboration features. Understanding students' perceptions and usage behavior of these systems is a very important goal, because the success of them depends on several social and psychological factors. In addition, the benefits of 3D graphics for education have been explored. 3D models are very useful to familiarize students with features of different shapes and objects, and can be particularly useful in teaching activities. Some courses have been developed using 3D images that the user must interact with in order to learn a certain lesson.