Air Gondwana

Teaching negotiation skills by utilising virtual worlds for an authentic learning experience

Abstract

The first year subjects Contracts A and Contracts B at the Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Law are assigned the task of teaching the skill of negotiation at a basic level as part as an integrated graduate capabilities program. Until 2008 this was done using a traditional approach involving a lecture, print materials and role plays. In 2008 the traditional approach was replaced with Air Gondwana, a multimedia program which is centred on the dealings of a fictional airline. Among other media, it utilises “machinima” - movies and stills created using virtual environments, in this case the Second Life environment and the Flight Simulator X computer game (with permission from Microsoft) - to create an engaging and authentic learning experience for “millennial students”. Air Gondwana is founded upon a range of learning theory including social constructivism, Collin’s “cognitive apprenticeship” model and Laurillard’s model for successful learning in law.