This thesis is based on a complete project, from designing to developing to evaluating a virtual reality learning environment. The amount of work involved could not have been carried out without the support, in many different levels, of many individuals.
I would like to express my gratitude to my thesis committee: Tom Moher for being such an inspirational advisor, Tom DeFanti for providing the support and resources which enabled me to pursue this research, and Mark Gillingham for the valuable educational direction.
There are no words to thank the NICE team for a wonderful collaborative experience: Andy Johnson, Jason Leigh, Chris Vasilakis, and Craig Barnes. Their creative ideas, talent, and help has been more than I can possibly thank for.
I would also like to thank the many other people who helped me while
I worked on this thesis. In particular:
Jim Costigan, for his tremendous help, willingness, and expertise in tackling
all the media; Vicki Pierce, for being a fantastic partner in evaluation;
my friends at the Open University in England, Martin Oliver and Cathy Lewin,
for their help in forming the evaluation framework; Karl Steiner,
whose work has influenced the development of this thesis;
the members of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory and the Interactive
Computing Environments laboratory for many insights, instances of patience,
and help with the children.
Warm and special thanks go to the teachers, Laurie Pierce and Barb Montcalm from St. Gertrude's Elementary, the parents and, above all, the 52 children who participated in the studies, for investing their time and energy.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Alan Millman, for being a wonderful companion, and my most loved ones: my sister Katie, my parents, Chris and Dena, and Fanis.
\initials{MR}