Analogy between impact of architectural design characteristics of learning spaces on learners in the physical world and 3D virtual world

This research starts by establishing from literature the importance of architectural design elements of physical learning spaces on face-to-face learning, hence, after illustrating examples of different types of architecture in Second Life, delves into exploring the effect of individual architectural features of 3D virtual building design, such as color, shape of class, lighting and open spaces, height of space, textures and other aspects on higher education learners during online e-learning sessions conducted in virtual worlds, in an analogy with the physical world. Learners are divided into three groups: (i) under-graduate students, (ii) post-graduate students, and (iii) adult learners and researchers. Results comprising charts and diagrams capturing, using surveys, the extent of learners’ satisfaction from being inside different 3D virtual university campuses in Second Life, representing different variations of architectural design elements in each learning space, hence their contentment from specific design characteristics, preferences and suggestions for design of a better learning environment are demonstrated. Moreover, this presentation will reveal how this research can help initiate the development of a framework or recommendations for building codes, for educational facilities within 3D Virtual Environments, to complement or contradict existing codes for erecting such facilities in the physical real-life world