Problems in Evaluating Learning in MOOs and MUDs
Preliminary Working Models

M. A. Syverson
Associate Director
Computer Writing and Research Lab
University of Texas at Austin
November 16, 1996

syverson@uts.cc.utexas.edu
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~syverson


Contents
Abstract
Part 1: The Problem
Part 2: Audiences Addressed
Part 3: Developmental Models
Syverson Home Page

ABSTRACT

 A major problem confronts educators and researchers investigating student literacy learning in MOOs and MUDs. While it is a simple matter to collect comprehensive data on student activity in a MOO via logs, it is extremely difficult to select salient excerpts for analysis and interpretation. The sheer volume of the logs, as well as the undistinguished text format, present formidable obstacles even for documenting a single student's development. This paper reviews some major difficulties in trying to understand and represent student learning in text-based MOOs, suggests potential audiences for a solution to the problem, and demonstrates several promising models for resolving it. The index at the bottom of each page indicates where you are in the paper; the right arrow will take you onward to the next page, the left arrow back to the previous page.

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