Check out my new moves!!!2.0 Web Application: Virtual Worlds
Holy Cow! Once I figured out what RL’s, SL’s, FL’s meant, I’m glad I decided to check this one out! Now how do I explain it? Second Life is a virtual world, built by its residents, whom can interact with another in social, business, educational, or recreational relationships. To become a part of this limitless world you need to figure out where you want to live. So, you put your virtual shoes on and explore this wild wild world. Along the way, you meet others and have 'fun.' While being this virtual social butterfly that you are, someone can invite you to a party, a dance club or even a Elvis concert. Really? A Dance Club? You may even run across a Miss Watermelon pageant in your travels or even a pig roast at a local charity event. I just can’t believe this amazing world can be just at my figure tips. Ahhh...dancing...without the embarrassment! Does this mean I can do the moon walk like Micheal Jackson? Or that I could actually win a Miss Watermelon Pageant even if my hair isn’t teased and I don't own anything with sequins on it??? Hmmm??? And if I do become Miss Watermelon Queen, I’m going to head straight to that pig roast down the street and stuff as much food into my mouth as I my virtual body lets me. While I'm at it add a pitcher of sweet to that too! Well, this type of world (well hopefully not that type of world) is now being introduced into education internationally. While I can find the logic in using a virtual world as a tool in the classroom, I can also see potential problems too.
Virtual Worlds can be beneficial to teachers and students. Integrating programs like Second Life into the curriculum can help students get more out of lessons than other activities. Students tend to have a better understanding of concepts when interaction and demonstration is involved. Teachers can recreate historical events, where students are representing the people involved, so students can visually, audioly, and ‘virtually’ interact in the event. This type of role play can help students relate to historical event (which was always really hard for me in school) and see the importance of the event. Reply by nlowell Mar 29 lists other subjects that Second Life can be beneficial to.
He listed one I didn’t think of…Literature Arts. For example, teachers set up the Old Globe Stage and students enact Shakespeare’s plays or produce a play of their own in appropriate Elizabethan mode. Another example he suggested was: Build the Peaquod and have the students go in search of Moby Dick Literature Teachers can use it in other ways. Students are able to become involved and have a greater appreciation for the Old Literature. Science is another way teachers can implement Second Life in their lessons. Outer space can be reached, space stations can be built, chemical reactions can be tested, physics can be explained, and dissecting animals might not smell so bad. Another subject it would great for teaching is Geography. This allows the students to role play as they were in another country and living among a different culture.
From the discussion sounds like California is already on their way to a new life in education. Cathy Rodriquez states that: There is a project out of Modesto City Schools...the district bought an island and students are building their own community in collaboration with students from Japan...Japanese students are studying English --American students are studying Japanese...what is really compelling about this project is that it has full support of the school district. Our infamous Kathy Schrock also is part of this new educational world. She states in the discussion that she is part of the Lighthouse learning Island. How interesting!
With this program teachers are able to further explore their creativity when creating lesson plans with Second Life. They are not limited by lack of funds or accessibility for materials or field trips. This type of freedom can only create more imaginative lesson plans that help students understand the material presented.
So what’s up with this new wonderful world for students to learn in? As there is in the normal classroom there are going to be problems that need to be addressed. Like Reply by nlowell Mar 27, questioned: Can we subvert the environment in such a way that we don't sacrifice the "compelling learning" on the altar of Education? Another downfall that I have come across on this discussion board is the consumption of time people are spending in what they call their ‘second life!’ A couple members said that they don’t have time for their ‘1st’ lives! This could definitely be a huge problem for kids. Especially, in correlation to obesity and gaming, gaming and isolation, isolation and inability to social interact in real life, and not being able to identify what is real and what is not. Violence, depression, and other negative impacts could be a negative result of Second Life in Education.
For the most part sounds like an interesting new educational world for teachers and students. Second Life will create a whole new and interesting curriculum that almost any type of learner can understand. It can help students with disabilities do things they never dreamt of doing. Those teachers in schools that don’t have easy access to the ocean can virtually take their whole class scuba diving to study sea life. As more schools intergrate Second Life into their curriculum, the more accessible and larger will this new world be! See ya on the dance floor!
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