There is a lot of “buzz” about virtual worlds and specifically, Second Life. For those not familiar with the Second Life world, this collection of adventures will give you an opportunity to explore parts of Second Life and consider its potential as a distributed interactive learning environment.
Second Life belongs to a class of social software known as a Massively Multi-user Interactive Environment. In Second Life, you can move through a virtual world with a virtual representation of yourself-your avatar. Many universities along with a growing number of K-12 institutions are showing interest in Second Life as a learning environment. EDUCAUSE along with the New Media Consortium, produce an annual report (Horizon Report) that explores six areas of emerging technology that will have significant impacts on higher education. The 2007 Horizon Report had virtual worlds listed in the top six.
Since Second Life is an “Open Environment”, it is possible to “explore” islands that you would not want in the classroom. However, this adventure will guide you through some of the better places. While Second Life is not ready for prime-time, it is important that educators start to explore virtual worlds and begin to understand the possibilities for education.
Adventure 1: Introduction to Second Life: How to move around second life- A movie. Adventure 2: Exploration of possible educational islands Adventure 3: Set up your own Second Life Account and explore Orientation Island
ADVENTURE 1
Objective: This adventure will show you a short movie which will serve as an introduction to the Second Life environment. After completing this movie, you should have a basic idea how to move around and interact in the Second Life environment.
DIRECTIONS
Watch the short movie on moving around the Second Life environment. The next adventure will give you an opportunity to enter Second Life and explore possible learning spaces.
Objective: Here you will have a chance to explore several places that are being designed as educational spaces. Your task is to explore these spaces. How might you use them as learning environments?
DIRECTIONS
The list of links below will take you to places that have been designed as learning environments. Simply log into Second life with one of the accounts listed below then click on the link for the island you would like to visit. Second Life can be launched from the desktop. You will click back to the Second Life environment to complete the teleport. In a moment, you will be transported to a new land. Explore this new space.
What value does it add to the learning experience? One of the strengths of simulations and virtual worlds is that they can take learners to spaces they could never visit. How might Second Life expand learning opportunities? What are the current difficulties of these types of spaces?
Objective: Set up your own Second Life (SL) account and explore Orientation Island.
DIRECTIONS
All you need to do is go to http://secondlife.com and click on the Get Started button and setup your account
You will need to check your e-mail when finished with the setup process. This will activate your account. Now you can launch Second Life from the desktop and log in with your new account. You will immediately enter Orientation Island. Here, you will be able to learn more about how to move around Second Life as well as how to communicate, customize your avatar and other features of Second Life. When you have explored the four areas of Orientation Island, you will receive "keys" which will allow you to explore the rest of Second Life. Remember that this is a very open space. Caution and experience in this "second world" are a must before you use this tool with students.
