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Second Life…What is it?

How is it Being Used in Education?

Crystal ZhangsunAka - Christine L. MarkIT 780 Spring 2010

What is Second Life?

Second Life is a 3-D virtual community imagined and created by its residents. It has a real economy, property ownership, and avatars (powered by people) that engage in many interactions and activities.

What is Second Life?

As of April 2010 the site has grown to more than 20 million accounts: individuals, educational institutions, corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations. At any given time 50,000-85,000 residents are online.

What is Second Life?

On

Line

Immersive

Virtual

Environment

What is Second Life?

Multi

User

Virtual

Environment

What is Second Life?• “Residents come to the world from over

100 countries with concentrations in North America and the UK … 60% are men, 40% are women and they span in age from 18 - 85.”

• Over 300 Universities and colleges havea presence in Second Life

http://www.secondlife.com/whatis

I, Avatar…

Changeable, customizable representation of ones’ self, image, dreams, or fantasy. Avatars can be people, vampires, literary representations, animals (furries), robots, transformers, or any other imaginary character.

Is There Any Cost?• Yes and No

• Free to create an Avatar and explore (Basic Membership)

• Can spend nothing or a lot

• Lots of “freebies” –Hair, skin, clothes

Why OLIVEs???

3D virtual environments allow for a “sense of presence” between the participants…

Unlike “flat” virtual activity (Blackboard/WebCT, e-mail, discussion forums, web sites, wikis, blogs, etc) or “cam” virtual activity (Wimba, WebEx, Adobe Connect, etc)

Rethinking Education/TrainingIn Second Life, it never rains, the temperature is always warm, and crime virtually non-existent. So, do you really need all those tables, desks, and chairs?

In Second Life the entire learning environment can be designed from the traditional to the fantastic. What fun!

Learning Methods in 2nd Life:1.Encouraging Specific Behaviors2.Role Playing3.Analytical (building)4.Creativity/Design5.Problem Solving6.Changing Roles7.Interacting with Fantasy

Education?Classes and workshops can be designed that encourage collaboration and participation by students in a global context.. Students can meet and interact with students and teachers around the world without ever having to travel.

Implications…

•Appeal to today’s visual students•Collaboration between campuses, disciplines, students/nonstudents•Distributed learning•Authenticity•Sense of Presence and Connectedness•Social Networking w/ Global Reach

Is the Future This????

Or This????

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4/24/2010 28

Second Life…What is it?

How is it Being Used in Education?

Crystal ZhangsunAka - Christine L. MarkIT 780 Spring 2010

Crystal Zhangsun