VIRTUAL WORLDS AS LEARNING IN TEACHING METHOD IN THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF BABAHOYO

Virtual worlds have become commonplace, its use goes from entertainment to real scientific simulation environments; the mass use of computers in almost all human activities has allowed this technology to enter ordinary households and therefore also to educational institutions of all levels. In this context, in this article the relationship between the use of virtual worlds for learning and traditional teaching methods described; to distinguish the level of uptake of the material taught by teachers using different methodologies contents, a virtual course (Virtual World) for the subject computer networks in the school systems of the Technical University of Babahoyo for what was created was used a combination of platform MOODLE, SLOODLE and SECOND LIFE, taking to the study as a population of thirty-six students from parallel "a" and thirty-four students from parallel "B" which in this case is the control group that used only traditional formal methods of education. Before implement the proposal, it was determined that the two groups are in similar conditions. To do this the results of the final evaluation of semester were taken, ie the final average of each student in the Course of Computer Networks and after applying standardized z was determined that students using Virtual Platforms in the learning process Computer Networks subject exceeds the level of academic achievement of students who do not use them.