Not quite a movie, not quite a computer game, a new multimedia tool that utilises the latest in Web 2.0 technology will help first-year Queensland University of Technology law students learn the art of negotiation.
Launched recently, Air Gondwana is an interactive program loaded with valuable information and a story line filmed in both real and Second Life to teach and quiz students.
It is the university's first foray into the Second Life virtual world for teaching, utilising its backgrounds and characters to create "machinima", the filming of computer-generated imagery in real-time.
The brain-child of QUT Law Professor Des Butler, Air Gondwana is embedded on the virtual classroom website QUT Blackboard, which students can access at any time of day or night and work their way through the exercises.
With a story line centred on the running of an airline company, students must negotiate their way through buying an aircraft, contracts with staff and suppliers and expanding the business to include an island tourist resort.
Professor Butler said negotiation was an important skill that would be well practised in the five-module program as it asks students to evaluate and employ techniques.
"Air Gondwana is an authentic learning experience, because it gives students the opportunity to practise applying the negotiation principles against a range of realistic scenarios," Professor Butler said.
"They can learn at their own pace, in a non-threatening environment, regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time or distance external students."
Professor Butler said Air Gondwana will culminate in an in-class activity, where students will display their skills in a one-on-one negotiation.
The project was funded by a QUT teaching and learning grant.
