Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second

Life?

TELECOOP 2007

Cynthia Calongne

Colorado Technical University

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What is Second Life?

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Second Life in March 2007

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What Can You Do in SL?

• Self -- Your identity • Social networks• Exploration• Build menu• Texture• Animate• Script• Teach• Class projects

• Avatar• Meet, chat, share• Visit, tour, study• Creation tools• Customize the look• Movement, gesture• Adds behaviors• Classes, office hrs• Applied learning

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Teaching in Second Life

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Campus Design

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Virtual Campus in SL

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Ramapo on the Teen Grid

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Teens in the Courtroom

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Thomson NETg

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Virtual Classrooms

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Presentation Forums

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Learning Environment

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Blended Reality Symposiums

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Legitimacy in the Academy

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Navigation in a Virtual World

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Avatar -- Self Expression

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Changeable Avatar Looks

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Educational Classes -- Events

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Research

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Applied Learning

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Immersive Design

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Modeling the Problem

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Svarga’s Artificial Life

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Class Projects in SL

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More Class Projects

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Design Team Meeting

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Structural Designs -- Floating

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Evolutionary Design

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Working Prototype

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Scripting Ramapo’s Robots

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NMC Teachers’ Buzz Meetings

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Amazon.com in SL Briefing

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Amazon.com SL

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Virtual Learning Spaces

• Second Life provides an opportunity for – Collaboration and community– Research and interaction– Classes and class projects in a virtual world

• Activity-based learning• Authentic assessment• Leveraging a game-based culture• Easy to configure, create and modify• Strong educational support networks via SL groups

– Real Life Education in Second Life– NMC Guests -- www.nmc.org/sl

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Conclusion

• Getting started– Download the free software; create an account– Design activities that map to learning outcomes

• Educational games, activities, scenes• Student-driven participation -- planning and design• Quests that focus on discovery and interaction• Immersive learning environments• Keep it engaging, unlike many educational games• Render and use ephemeral learning spaces

– Holographic -- temporary scenes and learning environments

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For More Information

Virtual Worlds in Online Education: Are You Ready to Teach in Second Life?

Cynthia Calongne -- calongne@pcisys.net(719) 597-7270

Lyr Lobo in Second LifeRyl Redgrave on the Teen Grid for Ramapo