The MediaMOO Project: Constructionism and Professional Community
Convergence, (1995)Abstract
MediaMOO is a text-based, networked, virtual reality environment designed to
enhance professional community among media researchers. MediaMOO officially opened
on January, 20th, 1993, and as of December 1994 has more than 1000 members from 29
countries. An application is required to join, and only those actively engaged in media
research are admitted.
Unlike many virtual environments, the world of MediaMOO is continuously being
constructed and reconstructed by its members. This paper analyzes experience with the
system to date, and highlights the importance of “constructionist” principles in virtual
reality design. The philosophy of constructionism argues that people learn with particular
effectiveness when they are engaged in constructing personally meaningful projects;
learning by doing is better than learning by being told. This approach is most often applied
to children’s learning. We believe that not enough attention is paid to its broader
applicability. We have found that letting the users build a virtual world rather than merely
interact with a pre-designed world gives them an opportunity for self expression,
encourages diversity, and leads to a meaningful engagement of participants and enhanced
sense of community.