A framework to prepare the application of virtual worlds in distance education in developing countries

This paper presents a framework to help preparing the implementation of virtual worlds, emphasizing on the requirements that distance education students need to meet to have a successful learning experience. A virtual world was developed using the OpenSimulator platform, under the pedagogical perspective of the Experiential Learning model, in a role-play simulation approach. An exploratory study was carried out with 19 experts from three different domains, collecting specialized feedback around technical and pedagogical dimensions, considering the target audience peculiarities, especially focusing on developing countries. The results culminated with the proposal of eight guidelines to harness the potential of the technology of virtual worlds for distance education.