Second Life is powerful teaching tool
Free computer program provides online classrooms and independent economy
Ian Haines
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Opinion
Technology in the classroom has been a key phrase in schools for many years. But perhaps it is now time for a new phrase; technology is the classroom.
The online program Second Life has been taking the world by storm for four years now, according to www.secondlife.com. It is an online world where the players create everything you see besides the land space itself. It can be used for many different purposes including: social networking, business strategies, stock market play, business ideas, product development and now education.
At the University of Cincinnati there are a few teachers and faculty members who are using the online world as a classroom. Although it is only a world of ones and zeros, it has become something much more than a game. Second Life and UC are on the forefront of the newest kind of online education with virtual classrooms where students can visit within Second Life (SL). Imagine waking up for class, logging onto SL as your Avatar (an avatar is your persona in the virtual world) and going to a designated place set up as a classroom with ample seating, a podium and even a fully functioning projector screen for presentations.
It is a real virtual classroom experience with all of the benefits of being in a real life (RL) classroom. Of course headsets would be required for communication with your teachers and other students, but it is a small price to pay for virtual education.
Nancy Jennings is an assistant professor in communications and she is teaching the class Communication 429: Communication and Technology, which is just grazing the edge of possibilities regarding the utilization of SL as an educational venue.
"I wanted to explore Second Life and all different types of communications technology then tie them into communication theory," said Jennings.
Chris Collins, a UCit program coordinator and Information Technology Analyst has been organizing SL as a learning opportunity here at UC. "She was able to get a grant through the Ohio Learning Network which started last January and we have been working on it ever since then," said Jennings. "We're looking at how to use Second Life in education, so we bought an island for UC and also space around the island for expansion in the future." The island is private in its present state, but Jennings hopes the island will eventually become public, hopefully by the end of the quarter.
The online program Second Life has been taking the world by storm for four years now, according to www.secondlife.com. It is an online world where the players create everything you see besides the land space itself. It can be used for many different purposes including: social networking, business strategies, stock market play, business ideas, product development and now education.
At the University of Cincinnati there are a few teachers and faculty members who are using the online world as a classroom. Although it is only a world of ones and zeros, it has become something much more than a game. Second Life and UC are on the forefront of the newest kind of online education with virtual classrooms where students can visit within Second Life (SL). Imagine waking up for class, logging onto SL as your Avatar (an avatar is your persona in the virtual world) and going to a designated place set up as a classroom with ample seating, a podium and even a fully functioning projector screen for presentations.
It is a real virtual classroom experience with all of the benefits of being in a real life (RL) classroom. Of course headsets would be required for communication with your teachers and other students, but it is a small price to pay for virtual education.
Nancy Jennings is an assistant professor in communications and she is teaching the class Communication 429: Communication and Technology, which is just grazing the edge of possibilities regarding the utilization of SL as an educational venue.
"I wanted to explore Second Life and all different types of communications technology then tie them into communication theory," said Jennings.
Chris Collins, a UCit program coordinator and Information Technology Analyst has been organizing SL as a learning opportunity here at UC. "She was able to get a grant through the Ohio Learning Network which started last January and we have been working on it ever since then," said Jennings. "We're looking at how to use Second Life in education, so we bought an island for UC and also space around the island for expansion in the future." The island is private in its present state, but Jennings hopes the island will eventually become public, hopefully by the end of the quarter.
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Daniel Johnson, Jr.
posted 11/01/07 @ 5:19 PM EST
As an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati, I'm impressed that UC has embraced SL.
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