Collaborative learning and experiential learning have been practised and proven effective in higher education. Beyond achieving intended learning outcomes, these approaches help students gain hands-on experience and prepare them for the future job market.
However, applying collaborative and experiential learning to interdisciplinary subjects presents two major challenges. First, there is a lack of learning materials due to the fast-evolving nature of these fields. Second, merging collaborative learning with experiential learning as a new pedagogical approach requires further investigation and the design of specific learning environments.
This project addresses these challenges by first creating a virtual and highly interactive learning space in the Edu-Metaverse called COMES (Collaborative Online Multidisciplinary Educational Space), then designing interdisciplinary learning materials for subjects such as Human-Computer Interaction, Extended Reality, and Game Design, while also examining the potential of this pedagogical approach to facilitate active and effective learning.
Our studies suggest that the Edu-Metaverse is an ideal setting for enhancing collaboration and experiential learning by fostering a stronger sense of belonging to the learning community, boosting learner engagement, and promoting knowledge application.