Pitching Second Life to Educators - 15 minutes

University of Cincinnati Second Life Learning CommunityUniversity of Cincinnati Second Life Learning Community

Chris Collins Project Manager, UC Second LifeSecond Life Ambassador, Ohio Learning NetworkUCit Instructional & Research [email protected].

Chris Collins Project Manager, UC Second LifeSecond Life Ambassador, Ohio Learning NetworkUCit Instructional & Research [email protected].

KnowledgeWorks Foundation: Map of Future Forces Affecting EducationKnowledgeWorks Foundation: Map of Future Forces Affecting Education

http://www.kwfdn.org/map/index.aspxhttp://www.kwfdn.org/map/index.aspx





Trends Echoed in ResearchTrends Echoed in ResearchNew Media Consortium & EDUCAUSE,Horizon Report 2007New Media Consortium & EDUCAUSE,Horizon Report 2007

Trends Echoed in ResearchTrends Echoed in ResearchNew Media Consortium & EDUCAUSE,Horizon Report 2007New Media Consortium & EDUCAUSE,Horizon Report 2007

Virtual worlds convey a sense of presencelacking in other media.Virtual worlds convey a sense of presencelacking in other media.

Virtual worlds can be used to createvery effective learning spaces.Virtual worlds can be used to createvery effective learning spaces.

Virtual WorldsVirtual Worlds• 30+ virtual worlds now

exist, many targeted at children and tweens

• Over $1 billion invested in virtual worlds from 10/06 to 10/07

• Gartner predicts 80% of internet users will use virtual worlds by 2011

• 30+ virtual worlds now exist, many targeted at children and tweens

• Over $1 billion invested in virtual worlds from 10/06 to 10/07

• Gartner predicts 80% of internet users will use virtual worlds by 2011

Why Second Life?Why Second Life?

• Leading VW platform

• 75% International

• Critical mass of education institutions (200+)




Why Second Life?Why Second Life?







Emergent BehaviorsEmergent Behaviors

• Buying and selling of virtual goods already a billion dollar industry.

• Business and industry using for meetings, prototyping, collaboration

• Explosion of creativity, content, and uses




US $ Exchanged on Lindex(in millions)















UC Second Life Learning Community: Public OfficeUC Second Life Learning Community: Public Office

• Over 2700 unique visitors in a 4 month period

• 164 visitors rang desk bell for assistance

• 68 requested information about distance learning opportunities

• Over 2700 unique visitors in a 4 month period

• 164 visitors rang desk bell for assistance

• 68 requested information about distance learning opportunities

UC Second Life Learning Community: 2007-08UC Second Life Learning Community: 2007-08

• Growth to 48 members

• 9 courses used the UCSLLC island

• 507 faculty, students, and staff participated or visited

• Growth to 48 members

• 9 courses used the UCSLLC island

• 507 faculty, students, and staff participated or visited

Partnerships: Ohio Learning NetworkPartnerships: Ohio Learning Network

• Second Life Ambassador

• Co-Moderate statewide SL listserv

• Second Life Ambassador

• Co-Moderate statewide SL listserv

•Featured workshops at Ohio Digital Commons for Education 2008•Featured workshops at Ohio Digital Commons for Education 2008

Partnerships: Siemens ProjectPartnerships: Siemens Project

• UCit & College of Engineering

• Write software to convert UGS PLM design files to Second Life models

• UCit & College of Engineering

• Write software to convert UGS PLM design files to Second Life models

• Siemens funding two graduate positions and an island• Siemens funding two graduate positions and an island

Partnerships: Local Partnerships DevelopingPartnerships: Local Partnerships Developing

• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

• Cincinnati History Museum

• Cincinnati Art Museum

• Disabled American Veterans

• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

• Cincinnati History Museum

• Cincinnati Art Museum

• Disabled American Veterans

Next Steps and QuestionsNext Steps and Questions

• Academic Technology Planning Committee

• Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

• Funding models• Student Code of Conduct policies?• Evaluate other virtual world platforms?

• Academic Technology Planning Committee

• Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

• Funding models• Student Code of Conduct policies?• Evaluate other virtual world platforms?

Citations• ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and IT 2007:

http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0706/rs/ERS0706w.pdf• Knowledge Works Foundation Map of Future Forces Affecting Education:

http://www.kwfdn.org/map/map.aspx• New Media Consortium & EDUCAUSE, Horizon Report 2007:

http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2007_Horizon_Report.pdf• Pew Teens and Social Media Report:

http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf• Gartner, 80% of Active Internet Users Will Have A “Second Life” in the Virtual World by the

End of 2011: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=503861• Virtual Worlds Management, $1 Billion Invested in Virtual World Companies Between

October 2006 and October 2007: http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2007/index.html

• CNN Money, Second Life still living its first one: http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/20/technology/kirkpatrick_rosedale.fortune/

• TechCrunch, Virtual Goods: the next big business model: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/06/20/virtual-goods-the-next-big-business-model/

http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0706/rs/ERS0706w.pdf

http://www.kwfdn.org/map/map.aspx

http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2007_Horizon_Report.pdf

http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf

http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=503861

http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2007/index.html

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/20/technology/kirkpatrick_rosedale.fortune/

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/06/20/virtual-goods-the-next-big-business-model/