Virtual world immersive learning environments provide a “real space” for learning across the globe with a sense of presence beyond webinars or online learning platforms like Canvas or Blackboard.  During the Virtual World MOOC 2020, Dr. Valerie Hill (Valibrarian) of the Community Virtual Library collaborated with Hajime Nichimura (Yan Lauria in virtual worlds).  Yan Lauria, who is located in Japan, has developed a teleportal system that shares simulations for education that are organized by subject.  Each month, Yan shares a tour for Community Virtual Library, and anyone can participate.  These tours are in voice and Valerie types in a chat window to help people follow Yan across the virtual world through teleportation.

Of course, watching this video as avatars teleport to Japan, Africa, France, and Italy is not the same experience as jumping into the virtual space yourself! The video was shot and shared through ZOOM during the Virtual World MOOC.

When one enters these simulated environments, there is a sense of “being there” beyond reading a book about a different culture.  In a virtual world, one controls the camera angles, walking, and interacting through active participation rather than passive viewing.

Together, learners can communicate across space and help each other juggle a variety of technological tools.  This is part of metaliteracy– a new way to view literacy beyond reading and writing.

Visit the narrow streets of Tokyo, a beautiful African Art Gallery, a French cathedral and the gondolas of Venice! One can stop and take a look at the beautiful view from way up at the top of a castle. Visit the Community Virtual Library calendar for more information about “Gateway to Thinking” (the teleportal system created by Hajime Nichimura (Yan Lauria) located in Second Life.

Our world has changed and continues to change, requiring us to develop new literacy skills (metaliteracy). “An exploration of global digital participatory culture spotlights a momentous change in the way we live and perceive our world, the “structure of feeling” evolving from postmodernism into metamodernism and the need to rethink literacy for a new era (Hill, 2020 p. 14)”.

Hill, V. J. (2020). Metamodernism and Changing Literacy: Emerging Research and Opportunities (pp. 1-225). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-3534-9