Wijnstra, J. (2021) Making Great Onlin eSpaces: The influence of the online platform of GatherTown on the creativity of the students at the University of Groningen. Master thesis.
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted education to the online environment. Within the online environment, new platforms are rising with anew features. One of which is GatherTown. GatherTown provides users with a 2D map and the possibility of one-to-one conversations. Creativity as a resource is staggeringly valuable. However, the result regarding the creativity of moving a creative university course to the online environment of GatherTown is unknown. In this research, creativity is defined as the production of novel and useful ideas. Educational courses and curricula which focus on creativity are increasingly valued in today’s society. The following research question has been formulated for this purpose: How do the students of the University of Groningen, following the Spatial Design Atelier course, experience moments of creativity whilst using the online GatherTown platform compared to a physical classroom? Quantitative data is gathered in the form of a questionnaire and qualitative data as semi-structured interviews. Students are divided into two groups, one working fully in the online environment of GatherTown and the other group working hybrid, both in GatherTown and a physical room. The questionnaire proofed that students working hybrid believed that they have experienced more creative processes and statistically created a more creative outcome, based on final grades. Based on the qualitative data, this difference is attributed to: more formality and distraction, poor ability to share ideas, feeling less responsible, missing out on moments of joint leisure. Further research could focus on comparing GatherTown to other online platforms.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Dijk, T. van |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jul 2021 11:55 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Jul 2021 11:55 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3571 |
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