Second Life as an Educational tool

Introducing Second Life

A new tool for Buddhist Education & Sharing the Dharma with the World.

What Is Second Life?

The Second Life Grid platform provides a powerful platform for interactive experiences. Over 200 educators from nearly as many universities and colleges use it for classes, research, learning and projects with their students, bringing a new dimension to learning.

Secular Education in Second Life

A large, active education community is engaged in the Grid. Harvard University, Texas State University, and Stanford University have set up virtual campuses where students can meet, attend classes, and create content together. These are just some examples of various organizations that have incorporated the Second Life Grid in their educational programs.

Harvard

Princeton

Stanford

Religion in Second Life Now that Second Life has a

critical mass of residents, some religious institutions are starting to take notice, especially evangelical Christian churches. One example is Oklahoma-based megachurch LifeChurch.tv, which broadcasts its weekly sermon to 12 locations -- 11 to its satellite campuses across the country and one to its virtual church in Second Life.

Mosques in Second Life

Judaism

Hinduism

Survey Says...

Do you think that real life religions have a place in SL? 1. Definitely yes 70 53.03%

2. Probably yes 29 21.97%

3. Maybe 21 15.91%

4. Probably no 7 5.30%

5. Definitely no 5 3.79%

Total 132 100%

For more survey results: http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2008/02/the-soul-of-sec.html#more

Buddhism in Second Life

Buddhism is very popular in Second Life. They keyword “Buddhism” renders 477 search results. These are regions, islands, groups, shops and small temples. There are four simulator regions dedicated solely to Buddhism: Gaden Gardens, Hikari, Bodhi, and Buddhism. Gaden Gardens is the only region managed by a celibate with Buddhist monastic training experience.

Dharma Talks in Second Life

There are Buddhist teachings held in Second Life. Most of the teachers are lay people without a verifiable lineage. There is one elder American Theravada Monk who has a small temple on a 512 square meter plot who teaches in several venues on Second Life. These teachers represent themselves as avatars in-world and use the voice chat technology to transfer their information.

Available Technology

Live streaming video-Quicktime format.

Voice-chat Live audio streaming via

Shoutcast or similar. Playback of pre-recorded

audio and video. MP3, .mov, and youtube.

Text: notecards, scripted information kiosks, internal web browser & scripted web-site launchers.

Text chat. Slideshow players. (Playback

of images on a screen.)

Recommended Pedagogy

Streaming of Live Dharma Talks Rebroadcast of Previous Talks URL Loaders that redirect visitors

to archives of past talks. Information kiosks near Buddha

images that give web urls and notecards to visitors.

“Books” that give notecards with sutras in them.

Interactive learning, prostration poses in front of Buddhas and virtual prayer ceremonies led via voice chat.

Office hours to answer questions. Referring potential students to local

real-world Buddhist centers if possible.

Transcending Borders

Available internationally.

In world “Universal Translators.”

Customizable for those that speak any language.

Eliminates travel costs yet still allows for close interaction

In Conclusion

It is our sincere hope that you will enjoy the space that we have developed, and use it for the benefit of all beings.