From dungeons to classrooms: The evolution of MUDs as learning environments

Abstract

The history of MUDs (multiuser domains or dungeons) goes back to the 1970s. Primarily this is a history of role-playing games and textbased virtual realities. As the decades have passed, MUDs increasingly have been developed and deployed for a wide range of applications in education and the Science of Learning. As opposed to an historical recounting of the development of MUDs, this chapter describes the evolution of MUDs as they have influenced education and learning, from simple meeting and discussion places, to simulated learning spaces, to the current state of the art, which is Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) for Education. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.