Place metaphors in educational cyberworlds: a virtual campus case study

In the recent years, the usage of 3D cyberworlds for educational purposes has increased. The metaphors behind the design of virtual places are quite diverse, from replication of real universities to art museums and scientific labs. Based on the results of a case study we have performed, this paper provides an initial set of requirements for a cyberworld representing an existing university. In this connection, we analyze place metaphors and associated design features of the virtual campus of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in the context of related work. Finally, we discuss the correspondence between the identified metaphors and associated educational goals, providing directions for further development of the virtual campus