Abstract

Published in 2010, the National Education Technology Plan (NETP) was a vivid call to transform the American educational system by incorporating advanced technologies used in people’s daily personal, educational, and professional lives. Learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity must be empowered by technology. Therefore, a better understanding of digital technologies in post-secondary education is needed. This pilot study investigated the educational experiences of graduate students who completed coursework that involved Voice over the Internet Protocols (VoIP) and Virtual World Application (VWA). The study asked the following research question: How do graduate students describe their learning experiences in their interactive classes that included the VoIP (ooVoo) and the VWA (Second Life)? In addition, the study explored students’ input that faculty may include in future courses. Data collection was obtained through Internet surveys from graduate students in a U.S. University. Findings showed a preference of an interactive medium over another. Implications suggested the elaboration and the promotion of a double skill: the technology knowledge or skills must support the achievement in the content course.