I first experienced Second Life during Month One of the EMDT master's program. I was hooked from the start. It was a great way to gather with other master's students and be together without actually being in the same state or region for that matter. I joined the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Island group and have spent the past three months learning how to build items, communicate with others, and contribute to the Second Life community. I think it's a fun, useful, and sometimes addictive way to collaborate and interact with colleagues. Multi-User Virtual Environments, or MUVE sites, have great cross-cultural potential and are an amazing resource for exploring real world locations or times in history which have long since passed.
Some of the locations I've visited are:
Alice in Wonderland - amusement park. 61,92,22 (PG)
The Cologne Cathedral - recreation of the famous World Heritage building. 225,128,42 (PG)
David Rumsey Maps - antique maps displayed in a unique way. 3,116,75,55 (PG)
Goethe Institute - Germany’s cultural institute. Learn German for free. 74,147,25 (PG)
Great Wall of China - stunning recreation of The Great Wall and Asian Islands. 131,15,24 (PG)
ISTE Island - a place for educators to network and learn about real education opportunities in Second Life
LanguageLab - teaches English to students from forty-five countries. 74,111,56 (PG)
Renaissance Island - representation of a Renaissance village. 93,90,27 (PG)
USC Marshall - allows students to operate and manage their own businesses, own rental property and meet in classroom environments. 14,110,25 (PG)
Virtual Bucharest - recreation of the capital of Romania. 132,182,22 (PG)
Virtual Native Lands - is three islands showcasing the diversity of Native American culture. 212,34,22 (PG)
Words in World - language academy for English and ESL. 158,149,27 (PG)
**all descriptions and locations referenced from SecondLife.com
Some other applications can be found at my group's collaborative site: The Cobra Training Academy. We worked hard to develop a training resource site for teachers to quickly access tips when using an MUVE, specifically Second Life.
Critics and educators have balked at the idea of using an MUVE site for education due to the ratings and vulnerability issues for students and minors. Areas can be purchased and developed with limited access and training for students is promoted to inform them of the warning signs of a location or participant with less than honorable designs. Responsibly guided and challenged, the idea behind MUVE sites can be a huge motivator for students. They learn to interact with others socially both locally and multi-culturally, collaborate on projects, create a personalized environment, express themselves freely through varied means of communication, and begin to understand the real world around them a bit better through this type of simulation.
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1 comment:
I knew I needed to hook up with you for 2nd Life! I still feel like such a beginner! I am just too busy to spend much time on there! I would love to explore as small groups occasionally. Does your group still do that? If so, send me an invite next time!
I am Zita Camino in 2nd Life.
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