Second Life & Education

Simulations in Virtual Worlds:Teaching & Learning in Second

Lifeby

Geoffrey B. Cain, M.S.John Miller, M.S.N.

Tacoma Community College

A Brief History…Networks (Gopher Space, FidoNet) Bulletin Boards (BBS) MUDs, MOOs, MUSHs2-d Graphics Based Chat (The

Palace)InternetLearning Management Systems3-d Multi-User Virtual Environments

Early Virtual Environments

What is Second Life?Social NetworkRole-PlayingBusinessMarketingResearch & DevelopmentTeaching

How is it being used?Harvard: Business LawBradley University: Field ResearchBall State University: English 104Ohio University: Learning KiosksUC Davis: Virtual Hallucination SimTacoma Community College: ER Sim

N.B. - All of the above contain links to further information.

Virtual ClassroomsInteractive

Teacher-studentStudent-student

InvestedLearning Space

Examples of Classrooms

Group WorkField tripsStudent-student interactionProjectsCommunication

IMNotecardsBlogging

ModelsInternational Space Flight Muse

umThe ExploratoriumComputer History MuseumSvarga: Artificial Life

Examples of Models

SimulationsHeart Murmer Virtual HallucinationsTCC ER

Examples of Simulations

Role-PlayingRenaissance IslandDickens’ LondonEmergency Management

Role-Playing Examples

The Pedagogy of the Virtual

ParticipationEngagementInvestmentOwnership

Instructional Design

The goal is to use MUVEs to increase interactivity in your course.Virtual Class

Field Trip

Models

Role-Playing

Simulations

Group Work

Getting StartedInstructor ResearchStudent OrientationTechnology Infrastructure

ResourcesSecond LifeSecond Life Educators

SubscribeSecond Life TutorialsA Guide to SL for LibrariansBest Practices in Education